There are a lot of things that need to be fixed if the Islanders are to make the playoffs.
However, getting the best out of Ilya Sorokin is non-negotiable.
It would be harsh to say that Sorokin is far from being the Islanders’ biggest problem this season, or even an issue at all.
The netminder has been taken on more shots than any other goaltender in the league and has a solid .910 save percentage. So the Islanders aren’t in any kind of online crisis.
However, compared to the 2022-23 season, when Sorokin finished second in the Vezina Cup with a save percentage of .924, his performance was not good at all.
And that became important.
So Sorokin’s 35 saves against the Maple Leafs on Monday night felt like a return to form, including a seven-inning stop in the final seconds of Toronto’s 6-on-5 skate.
“He was really good,” Isles coach Patrick Roy said. “In the first game, we made some mistakes and it created some chances on the rebound, but he was really solid. Even though we conceded the first goal because of a mistake on our part. , he made some key saves at the end of the second period. It was huge for us to give us a chance to get back to a 2-1 lead.”
Another factor working in Sorokin’s favor right now is that the Islanders are finally getting healthy. Semyon Varlamov returns to the team as his backup, and defensemen Adam Perek and Ryan Purok return to the lineup.
This should mean fewer games for Sorokin, who played in 36 games this year, and fewer shots in the games he does play.
“They’re good defensemen,” Sorokin said of Pelech and Purok. “Our entire roster [is] I’m playing, wow. ”
For the first time in a long time, Sorokin looks poised to go from good to great.
And that could be a game-changer for islanders.
The Islanders did not practice Tuesday after returning from Toronto. They will next face the Lightning at home on Thursday, while Tampa Bay will play the second end of a back-to-back after playing the Rangers on Wednesday.
