Sorokin sets Islanders’ shutout record, Duclair records hat trick in 9-0 win over Devils

Jan 6, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) looks for a rebound after a save by New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

ELMONT, NY — Ilya Sorokin posted his 26th career shutout, passing Chico Resch for the most in franchise history, by stopping all of the New Jersey Devils’ 46 shots in a 9-0 victory on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. 

The 30-year-old recorded his fourth career hat trick and his first since March 5, 2019 with the Ottawa Senators against the Columbus Blue Jackets, posting three straight goals in 23:29 as a part of a five-point night.

A second straight win keeps New York (24-15-4, 52 points) within three points of the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand.

Duclair is the second Islander this season to record a natural hat trick (Bo Horvat), making it the first time that the franchise has had two different players record natural hat tricks in the same season since Pierre Turgeon and Derek King in 1993-94. 

Mathew Barzal opened the scoring just 1:08 into the game when he one-timed a Ryan Pulock feed from the left circle home for his 11th goal of the season. 

Duclair nabbed his first 3:09 later when he kept it himself on a 3-on-1 rush, and snuck a wrister from the left circle past the glove of Devils netminder Jakob Markstrom, who conceded the Islanders’ opening two goals on just three shots. 

Eight and a half minutes later, Duclair got his second when he was sprung on a semi-breakaway from a Casey Cizikas clear. From nearly the same spot in the left circle, he sniped a wrister just beneath the crossbar to give the Islanders a three-goal lead.  

The hat trick came 3:29 into the second period to put the hosts up 4-0 when a right-circle one-timer from Barzal left Markstrom with no chance.

Simon Holmstrom made it a five-goal game when he jumped on a spilled puck from Markstrom, circled around the netminder below the goal line, and reached back around the left post to stuff it home for his 10th point in his last 13 games. 

Casey Cizikas got in on the act 1:34 into the third when he drove to the net with a defender draped on him and slid the puck under Markstrom’s pads.

Tony DeAngelo notched New York’s seventh with his first goal since Oct. 23, a wrister assisted by Duclair at the 11:28 mark. 

But wait, there was more. Cal Ritchie made it eight with a breakaway goal with 1:24 to go, before Duclair assisted Cizikas’ second goal just seconds later. 

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