New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) pauses as the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate a goal by Nicolas Roy during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
ELMONT, N.Y. — The aggression was there — so were some growing pains — but overall, Patrick Roy was generally happy with how his Islanders performed despite a loss.
New York (20-16-11) dropped Game No. 2 of the Roy era, falling to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Tuesday night at UBS Arena despite posting a season-high 42 shots and outshooting its opponents by 15.
“Sometimes the hockey gods are not on your side,” Roy said. “Tonight that was the case. I saw a lot of good things. Great progression from our guys. Our breakouts were much better. I felt like we were working and skating harder to pick up pucks.
“We were moving our feet much more than the previous game… That’s the nature of hockey. Sometimes you don’t get necessarily rewarded for what you do.”
Vegas (28-14-6) used a two-goal outburst in just 1:49 during the second period to build a two-goal lead they wouldn’t relinquish, but their opening and final tallies were created by key turnovers from Islanders defensemen.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau pulled one back shorthanded midway through the third period for the Islanders, but they couldn’t beat Knights goalie Adin Hill, who turned away 40 New York shots in his first game since Dec. 17.
Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves on 27 shots.
An Adam Pelech turnover led to the Golden Knights’ breakthrough with 8:08 remaining in the first period. Getting to a loose puck in front of Sorokin’s net, a backhanded clear attempt was the equivalent of a pass to Vegas defender Alex Pietrangelo, whose wrister was deflected by Ivan Barbashev and in.
“It was bad luck, that first goal,” Roy said. “A little miscue in our D-zone coverage. We should have been a little bit lower to facilitate the breakout…
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