Sorokin Shines in Return from Injury
Ilya Sorokin didn’t seem to need any time to ease back in after a lower-body injury. In fact, his first start after sitting out for seven games was nothing short of spectacular, as he led the Islanders to a dominating 9-0 victory over the Devils.
He saved 45 shots, marking his 26th career shutout which, interestingly, broke the franchise record while former record-holder Chico Resch was in attendance as a radio analyst for the Devils.
“It’s a good memory, yes,” Sorokin mentioned, though he often downplays personal achievements. “But first of all, it’s teamwork. Without my teammates I’m nothing.” A humble approach, certainly, but it speaks to the camaraderie he values.
Returning from injury can be nerve-wracking, and Sorokin admitted he felt “a little nervous” at first. Yet, he tried to clear his mind early on. The game was curious—despite the Devils maintaining more possession and firing more shots, Sorokin’s performance was crucial, particularly since Jacob Markstrom struggled in the New Jersey goal.
“For the first few minutes, I felt a little uncomfortable with my play,” Sorokin reflected. “But as the game went on, I gained confidence with each shot. Everyone helped me, and it was an interesting match.”
During Sorokin’s absence, David Rittich performed admirably, achieving a .911 save percentage over seven games. But the impression Sorokin left was unmistakable; he made clear he was back in form, and in a season where he’s drawing attention for the Vezina Trophy, he certainly put forth his case.
Matthew Barzal praised him, stating, “He’s just solid. Look at him tonight. He made some really insane saves.” Even late in the game, as Jersey pressed to break the shutout, Sorokin remained unyielding. “He works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Barzal added, underscoring Sorokin’s dedication.
“He practices day in and day out, he’s the last guy at the rink. He’s an inspiration,” Barzal continued, capturing not just Sorokin’s talent, but his work ethic as well.
In other news, Islanders prospect Victor Eklund was named Player of the Game after scoring a goal and an assist in Sweden’s triumph over the Czech Republic in the World Junior Championship final, completing the tournament with two goals and five assists.
Meanwhile, Rittich was notably absent from the Czech Republic’s Olympic roster announced on Tuesday.
