Though Marcus Hogberg has been solid, coach Patrick Roy said Sorokin will be in net for the important game against Columbus at UBS.

This was the sort of effort which, if the Islanders could replicate it consistently, makes them look like a playoff contender.

As the NHL season progresses, two unexpected contenders have emerged in the Eastern Conference playoff race: the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Isles are 8-5-7 in games decided by a single goal including 4-5 in regulation. They are 2-6 in games decided in overtime and are 2-1 in shootouts. The Isles are 3-8 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.

Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves. Kent Johnson scored for Columbus and Elvis Merzlikins had 22 saves, but the Blue Jackets ended a seven-game point streak (6-0-1). The Islanders scored three goals in a span of 5:04 in the second period to take the 3-1 lead and ...

Horvat's two goals in a dominating three-goal second period for the Islanders leave Blue Jackets scuffling with back-to-back defeats.

Sorokin's 29 saves led the Islanders to a 3-1 victory over the Flyers. The New York Islanders picked up a key 3-1 Metropolitan Division victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Friday night. Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist and Bo Horvat had the game-winning goal while Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 of 30 shots for his 15th win of the season.

Final Thoughts: The Islanders last faced the Blue Jackets on Oct. 30, when they were shut out 2-0. That was the game in which Mathew Barzal suffered his long-term upper-body injury. The gap between the Islanders and Columbus is eight points right now.

Cole Sillinger, who missed the previous three games because of an upper-body injury, scored on a rebound 52 seconds into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Cole Sillinger, back in the lineup after missing three games with a bruised hand, called checkmate only 52 seconds into overtime, scoring the first OT winner of his career in the Blue Jackets’ 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights before 17,783 in T-Mobile Arena.

LAS VEGAS -- Cole Sillinger scored 52 seconds into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 2-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday. Adam Fantilli scored in his 100th career NHL game and Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets (25-19-7), who have won two in a row.