Bo Horvat scores, Ilya Sorokin makes 25 saves and Islanders top Devils 1-0

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Bo Horvat scored late in the second period and Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves and the New York Islanders topped the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Sunday.

Horvat intercepted an attempted pass by Devils forward Timo Meier and fired a shot past goalie Jacob Markstrom with 57 seconds left in the middle period for his 28th goal this season. The Islanders held on as Sorokin improved to 30-23-6 with his fourth shutout this season and the 22nd of his career. This is the second time the 29-year-old Sorokin has reached the 30-win mark in his five-year NHL career.

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech did not return after he was hit high by Devils forward Paul Cotter at the six-minute mark of the second period. Cotter received a five-minute major match penalty and game misconduct. After the game, Islanders coach Patrick Roy had no update on Pelech.

The Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak by winning a day after they were eliminated from postseason contention with a shootout loss at Philadelphia. New York made the playoffs the past two seasons, losing to Carolina both times in the first round.

This was the ninth time the Devils were blanked this season.

Devils captain Nico Hischier had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the waning second but shot the puck wide.

New Jersey is heading to the postseason for the second time in three years. The Devils will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round. New Jersey defeated the Rangers in seven games in the opening round two years ago, then lost to Carolina in the second round.

Markstrom made 21 saves for the Devils.

Devils: fell to 19-16-5 in home games. New Jersey is 22-16-2 on the road.

Islanders: improved to 16-17-7 on the road with their first away win since March 18.

Sorokin, who hadn’t played since allowing Alexander Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th goal last Sunday at UBS Arena, returned from a three-game absence with a lower body injury with a flawless performance.

The Islanders are 19-5-6 when scoring first and 15-29-6 when allowing the opening goal.

Devils: visiting Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Islanders: hosting Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom makes a save in front of New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders center Marc Gatcomb (16) skates with the puck past New Jersey Devils center Justin Dowling (37) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) shoots past New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom makes a save in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) wins a face-off against New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat, second from right, is congratulated by Alexander Romanov (28) after scoring a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge has ordered city officials to temporarily halt a plan allowing federal immigration agents to operate within the Rikers Island jail complex ahead of a hearing later this week.

In a written order Monday, Judge Mary Rosado barred the city from “taking any steps toward negotiating, signing, or implementing any Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government” before an April 25 hearing in a suit challenging the plan.

That hearing will focus on a lawsuit brought last week by the New York City Council against Mayor Eric Adams that seeks to block his recent executive order permitting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies to maintain office space at the jail complex.

The suit accuses Adams, a Democrat, of entering into a “corrupt quid pro quo bargain” with the Trump administration in exchange for the Justice Department dropping criminal charges against him.

Adams has repeatedly denied making any deal with the administration over the criminal case. He has said the presence of ICE and other federal agencies within the jail complex will allow them to assist in gang and drug-related investigations but that they would have no role in civil immigration enforcement.

A spokesperson for Adams said the city would not execute any agreement with the Trump administration ahead of the hearing.

Adams previously announced he would deputize his first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, to handle all decision-making on the return of ICE to Rikers Island in order to “ensure there was never even the appearance of any conflict.”

Mastro said last week that discussions with the federal government over the plan were ongoing.

ICE agents previously had a presence at the Rikers Island facility, which is on a hard-to-reach island in the East River. But they were effectively banned from operating there in 2014 under New York City’s sanctuary laws limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement.

“The Council stands firm in our efforts to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against attacks by the Trump administration and its agents,” said Julia Agos, a spokesperson for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running for mayor. “We appreciate Judge Rosado’s decision to prevent any negotiation or execution on an agreement between the administration and federal agencies until this Friday’s hearing to ensure communities are protected.”

FILE - The Rikers Island jail complex stands in New York with the Manhattan skyline in the background June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)