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Ilya Sorokin vs. Igor Shesterkin: Round 2 of rivalry

The Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin and the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin were both projected to become their respective teams’ No. 1 goalies, and that has come to fruition this season. But the NHL rivalry between the longtime friends and former KHL rivals has been slow to develop.

Thursday night’s game at Madison Square Garden marks just the second time Sorokin and Shesterkin will face each other since coming over from Russia. But the goalies may eventually define the heated New York rivalry the way Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin does for Penguins-Capitals.

"Ilya and Shesterkin are both really good friends and they’re both helluva goaltenders," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said.