OTTAWA — Coach Patrick Roy isn’t pointing fingers at Ilya Sorokin or the Islanders’ defense after Saturday’s game.

“We had plenty of chances, but we need to improve in front of him,” Roy mentioned following the Islanders’ narrow 5-4 victory over the Senators.

This statement rang true, especially given the Islanders’ shaky performance in their own zone and on backchecks, which made the victory feel a bit fortuitous.

While Sorokin’s performance wasn’t stellar, as he allowed four goals for the fourth time this season, including a short-side goal that slipped through David Perron’s legs in the first period, the team wasn’t exactly providing him with solid support.

After conceding a similar goal to Winnipeg’s Logan Stanley in the previous game, the Islanders chose to bench Sorokin last Monday. Coach Roy made an exception this time, hoping to bolster Sorokin’s confidence.

Despite a few bright moments, including a significant save on Shane Pinto’s penalty shot—an important turning point—Sorokin didn’t appear to be himself for much of the game. Ottawa’s goals were mostly avoidable, two coming from breakaways and one from Pinto’s powerful shot from the left circle.

“I felt good today. All three periods,” Sorokin stated, acknowledging that the team helped him by blocking shots.

This self-assessment felt notably more optimistic than what he expressed after his last performance, which is a small comfort for the Islanders. But, until Sorokin delivers a solid 60-minute game akin to his previous top-tier performances, there will still be unease about the goalie situation.

The Islanders’ forthcoming decisions regarding the goalie split between Sorokin and David Rittich will likely reflect their confidence in his recovery, especially as they prepare for a home game against San Jose after a two-day break.

Matthew Schaefer made a notable contribution by assisting Max Shabanov’s goal in the second period, marking his fifth consecutive game with a point. Interestingly, Schaefer’s grandparents drove 12 hours from Sault Ste. Marie to attend the match.

Meanwhile, Alexander Romanov missed the game due to an upper-body injury, and Adam Boqvist stepped in for his first appearance this season.

Kyle McClain started for the second consecutive game, and Max Tsyplakov was also available for selection.