Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin picks up first win of season
Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin deflects a shot from Ottawa Senators center Dylan Cozens during the first period of an NHL game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday. Credit: AP/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA, Ontario — It was a good first win for Ilya Sorokin.
The Islanders’ No. 1 goalie has struggled with rebound control, soft goals and his confidence to start the season. And while he allowed at least one questionable goal in Saturday’s 5-4 victory over the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, Sorokin believes he can build off this one.
“It’s very important mentally for me,” he said after making 29 saves and stopping Shane Pinto’s penalty shot at 2:23 of the third period to keep the Senators from taking a two-goal lead.
“Today, it’s a funny game. It’s like a Western movie. Shot, shot, shot.”
Coach Patrick Roy took time to work with Sorokin one-on-one on Thursday, specifically on rebound control and trying to bolster his confidence. Sorokin did allow David Perron’s power-play goal from the left circle to trickle through him at 17:01 of the first period.
“We gave them so many chances,” Roy said. “We’ve got to be better in front of him.”
But Sorokin, who is 1-3-0 with a 4.13 goals-against average and an .861 save percentage, came up big when needed, getting his glove on Pinto’s penalty shot.
“I was just waiting to see what he was going to do,” Sorokin said. “Make him make the first move.”
Notes & quotes: Anders Lee’s 44th career game-winning goal tied him with Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for fourth on the Islanders’ all-time list . . . Defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body) is day-to-day, so righthander Adam Boqvist drew into the lineup for the first time this season, logging 15:10 as he played on his off-side with Tony DeAngelo . . . Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, 18, became the youngest player in NHL history to start his career with a five-game point streak after notching an assist . . . Defenseman Ryan Pulock had a game-high five of the Islanders’ 19 blocked shots . . . Casey Cizikas played in his 902nd game, taking sole possession of fourth place in team history.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
More Islanders
