The Islanders’ first game without Brock Nelson proved just how pivotal Ilya Sorokin will be for their playoff push. The Islanders got out of San Jose alive, beating the Sharks 4-2, but it was not the prettiest of performances from a group that had a hole punched into its lineup with the deal that sent Nelson to Colorado on Friday.

It was two years ago that best friends and rivaling competitors Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin competed in the NHL All-Star Skills competition together. Shesterkin joked that he should have been the one to shoot pucks down the ice at the opposing net instead of Sorokin.