Ilya Sorokin did not contest Igor Shesterkin's remarks regarding their respective goalie goals. Following Shesterkin's historic goal as the first goaltender in Rangers history on Thursday night, he noted that his goal was legitimate, unlike Sorokin's, which he claimed was aided by a misplay. Sorokin acknowledged Shesterkin's achievement, stating, "He scored a real goal," in a message to Shesterkin, as reported by The Post’s Ethan Sears on Friday before the Islanders’ home opener against the Devils.
Shesterkin's goal occurred with just over two minutes left in the third period, during a moment when the Lightning's net was empty. The puck rebounded off the boards directly to Shesterkin, who successfully shot it down the ice into the empty net, marking a personal goal he had aimed for throughout his NHL career. Initially unsure if the puck had gone in, Shesterkin celebrated after seeing his teammates react. He recalled his last goalie goal was during his junior years at 19.
Sorokin praised Shesterkin's shot, calling it a "great one-timer" and expressed happiness for his friend, noting, "He wanted to score for a long time. So he finally did it. It was a beautiful goal."
In contrast, Sorokin's goal came from a fortunate bounce after he saved a shot from the Predators. A misdirected pass from Steven Stamkos allowed the puck to travel down the ice into the net.
In other news, 19-year-old rookie Victor Eklund, following his NHL debut, has been placed in the Islanders’ top six. Coach Pete DeBoer has adjusted his lines, placing Eklund on the left wing of the second unit alongside center Cal Ritchie and Brayden Schenn. Eklund expressed his excitement about his rapid ascent in the lineup, stating, "Can’t really take it in yet. Still feel like I’m walking on the clouds."
DeBoer also mentioned that he has been shifting players around to find effective line combinations, emphasizing the importance of chemistry among all lines. Defenseman Alexander Romanov shared that he felt he performed well in his return after shoulder surgery, while DeBoer noted that improving puck touches would be crucial for Romanov moving forward. Sorokin is confirmed to start in the Islanders’ home opener.