Sorokin made 26 saves in Thursday's 5-4 win over Chicago.

The Islanders seemed to have things well in hand when they took a 5-1 lead midway through the third period and chased Arvid Soderblom from the game, but the visitors caught fire late and scored the final three goals of the night, including two by Tyler Bertuzzi in the final 70 seconds. With Semyon Varlamov (lower body) sidelined since late November, Sorokin has started seven straight games, going 4-2-1 with a 2.54 GAA and .911 save percentage. He could be feeling some fatigue, but it's not clear if the Islanders trust backup Marcus Hogberg enough to give Sorokin a breather.

Brodie scored his first goal of the season in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders.

The veteran blueliner blasted a shot through traffic midway through the third period that eluded Ilya Sorokin, starting a late rally that nearly erased a 5-1 deficit. Brodie has had a tough first season in Chicago, managing six points in 26 appearances with 34 blocked shots, 12 shots on net, eight hits, six PIM and a minus-8 rating.

Bertuzzi scored two goals in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders.

With Chicago down 5-2 late in the third period, Bertuzzi tried to steal at least a point in the standings for his club with a pair of tallies in the final 70 seconds. The streaky winger has tickled twine in back-to-back games, but on the season he has just eight goals and 13 points in 29 contests. He's skating on Chicago's top power-play unit though, and with Connor Bedard heating up, Bertuzzi could be headed for a surge of his own.

Bedard scored a power-play goal and added two even-strength assists in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders.

The 19-year-old opened the scoring late in the first period with a slick snipe from the slot, and Bedard then nearly sparked a late comeback from a 5-1 deficit by having a hand in tallies by T.J. Brodie and Tyler Bertuzzi in the back half of the third. Bedard had a bit of a sluggish start to the season relative to expectations, but he's come to life over the last couple weeks, racking up three goals and nine points over the last eight contests -- with six of those points (three tallies, three helpers) coming on the power play.

Commesso turned aside both the shots he faced after replacing Arvid Soderblom midway through the third period of Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders.

It was the first NHL action of Commesso's career, and the 22-year-old netminder nearly got rewarded with a win when Chicago almost rallied from a 5-1 deficit. Petr Mrazek (groin) isn't expected back for at least another week, and with the team playing back-to-back games this weekend, Commesso seems likely to get his first NHL start either Saturday in New Jersey or Sunday back at home in a rematch with the Isles.

Soderblom gave up five goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Drew Commesso midway through the third period of Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders.

New York scored three goals in under three minutes in the final frame to surge out to a 5-1 lead, and while Soderblom wasn't necessarily to blame for any of them, Chicago interim coach Anders Sorensen decided to send a message to his team by getting out his hook. The move almost worked, but Chicago's comeback attempt ran out of time. The 25-year-old goalie has appeared in four of six games to begin December, going 1-3-0 with a 3.35 GAA and .872 save percentage, but with Petr Mrazek (groin) likely out for another week or more, Soderblom will likely continue to hold down the top job in the crease.

Pesce scored a shorthanded goal in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Kings.

The 30-year-old blueliner gave the Devils an insurance tally late in the third period when Jack Hughes' initial shot was blocked by Brandt Clarke, but Pesce then followed up and used the Kings defender as a screen. It was Pesce's first goal of the season and only his second point in 23 appearances, and his first career shortie in his 10th NHL campaign.

Palat produced a goal and an assist in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Kings.

The veteran winger opened the scoring for the Devils by tipping home a Jack Hughes shot from close range late in the second period. Palat has found a groove while skating on New Jersey's top line, and over the last six contests he's picked up two goals and five points -- an impressive surge for a player who managed just three goals and six points in his first 25 appearances this season.

Hughes scored the game-winning goal and added two assists, one shorthanded, in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Kings.

After Ondrej Palat tipped home a Hughes shot late in the second period for the Devils' first tally, Palat returned the favor midway through the third, finding his linemate through traffic to set up the winner. It's Hughes' fifth multi-point performance in the last seven games, a stretch in which the 23-year-old has erupted for four goals and 13 points.

Markstrom stopped 12 shots in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Kings.

Los Angeles grabbed a 1-0 lead late in the second period on a Jordan Spence one-timer, but for the most part Markstrom was unbothered in the New Jersey crease. The veteran netminder has gone five straight starts without taking a regulation loss, going 4-0-1 over that stretch with a 1.98 GAA and .914 save percentage, and Markstrom's 14 wins on the season have him tied for second in the NHL behind Connor Hellebuyck's 18.