The Islanders are the Ilyas, not the Isles, until further notice.
Rookie goaltender Ilya Sorokin was the savior of the Isles’ 3-2 Game 5 double overtime win at PPG Paints Arena on Monday night that pushed the top-seeded Penguins to the brink of first-round elimination.
Sorokin made 48 saves to offset a 50-28 Penguins shot advantage and hold on until Jordan Eberle tied it 8:50 into the third period and Josh Bailey won it 51 seconds into double OT.
Sorokin, 25, set new Islanders records for shots faced and saves made by a rookie goalie in team playoff history. The Ilyas — er, the Isles — are now 3-0 in the series with Sorokin in net, rather than veteran Semyon Varlamov.
Winger Anthony Beauvillier had a terrific night, too, with a first period goal, a penalty drawn in the third, and the speed to hassle Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry into his fateful turnover to Bailey early in the second overtime.
The No. 4-seeded Isles now have a chance to close out the Penguins in Game 6 on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum.
