The New York Islanders announced goaltender Ilya Sorokin was credited with his first career goal Saturday in their 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators.
Sorokin didn’t actually shoot the puck himself. He made a save on Nashville forward Jonathan Marchessault during the final minutes when the Predators had pulled their goalie. The rebound went to Steven Stamkos, who attempted a pass to defenseman Brady Skjei at the blue line.
The pass missed its target and traveled the length of the ice into Nashville’s empty net.
This marks just the second goalie goal in Islanders history. Billy Smith scored the first against the Colorado Rockies on Nov. 28, 1979.
Sorokin becomes the 17th goaltender to score in NHL history. His goal is the 20th by a goalie in the league.
“If I shot this goal, it’s a different emotion,” Sorokin said, per Isles on MSGSN. “This is just luck. It was a good save before the (goal).”
The 29-year-old Russian netminder took particular satisfaction in beating a crosstown rival to the achievement.
“I knew I’d do it before Igor (Shesterkin),” he said, according to the New York Post’s Ethan Sears.
Sorokin is the third goalie to score this season, joining Minnesota Wild’s Filip Gustavsson (Oct. 15) and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Alex Nedeljkovic (Jan. 17).
He finished the game with 24 saves in the victory.
