March 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin (30) reacts against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The New York Islanders will get a new look under center when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night as they look to end a two-game skid.
New York traded to St. Louis before Friday’s trade deadline. Acquired center Brayden Schenn from the St. Louis Blues. The 34-year-old, who has 12 goals and 28 points in 61 games this season, happened to already be in the Bay Area as the Blues were playing the Sharks on Friday night.
“What excites me about this team is the top talent,” Schenn said of his new club. “When I play the Islanders as an opponent, you’ll never have a comfortable night. They always play hard, they always play hard, they always play for each other. I think that’s important. I’m looking forward to this new chapter and being a part of a team like that.”
The Islanders, who were on a four-game road trip, dropped back-to-back games in Anaheim and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Adam Pelech, Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman scored for the Islanders in a 5-3 loss to the Kings. Ilya Sorokin went 18-13-3 for New York this season, making 30 saves.
The acquisition of Schenn gives the Islanders, third in the Metropolitan Division, depth and flexibility with 19 regular season games remaining.
“We think he’ll help us in the middle,” Islanders general manager Mathieu Darchet said. “It gives us a lot of flexibility. We have more options and we’re excited to have him.”
Sorokin is 22-14-2 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average in 38 starts and is 4-0-3 in seven career games with the Sharks.
Saturday will be the second and final meeting between the Islanders and Sharks this season. New York visited San Jose 4-3 on October 21st.
The Sharks, who were relatively quiet at the trade deadline and sent defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the Washington Capitals for a fourth-round pick, enter Saturday’s contest after losing 3-2 in overtime to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.
“I think our projections weren’t the best. That’s when we’re creating most of our chances and tonight wasn’t the best,” San Jose’s Will Smith said. “(Turnovers) is definitely something we’re working on. That can’t happen this time of the year.”
Macklin Celebrini scored his team-leading 31st goal and Kiefer Sherwood tied it 2-2 with the Sharks’ third goal, which ended a three-game winning streak. Alex Nedeljkovic made 11 saves.
San Jose, third in the Western Conference wild card standings, is 4-4-2 in its last 10 games and 17-10-4 at home this season.
“It was a big point for us (Friday), but if we go in a row it would be huge,” Smith said. “(The Islanders) are a great team, they’re definitely having a good year, so we’ve got to be ready.
“We have to learn from (the loss) and move past it and prepare for (Saturday).”
Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose’s starting pitcher on Saturday, has a 19-16-2 record, a 3.57 GAA and an .887 save percentage in 38 games this season.
–Field level media
