Managing Goaltending Early in the Season

The Islanders have faced a recurring issue in recent seasons: Ilya Sorokin’s exceptional performance often leads to his overuse, as the team feels the urgency to rely on him during crucial parts of the schedule.

This year, with a couple more games added to the calendar, coach Pete DeBoer is proactively trying to avoid falling into that same pattern.

Given the competitive nature of their upcoming season, there might come a time when resting Sorokin becomes challenging. To prepare for that, DeBoer aims to rotate the goaltenders more frequently at the beginning of the season, hoping that backup Semyon Varlamov can get around 30 games.

“If we find ourselves in that situation again, I need to ensure that he can handle the load without getting exhausted,” DeBoer explained. “That’s why managing his playing time early is crucial. We need to prepare for a tough finish, and if we have to rely on him for several consecutive games, he needs to be ready.”

For instance, Sorokin skipped Saturday’s morning skate before starting against the Devils, where he made 37 saves in a 6-0 shutout victory at UBS Arena.

The introduction of a full-time emergency backup goaltender is likely to provide additional support for both Sorokin and Varlamov during the season.

In the off-season, Sorokin mentioned to a Russian outlet that he concentrated on his physical condition and recovery, anticipating a heavy workload ahead.

However, he clarified recently that this didn’t mean altering his usual routine.

“It was more about system work. There’s not a significant change in what I do now compared to before,” Sorokin noted. “It’s all about the effort. It’s hard work, and every player does it in the summer, so it’s not anything out of the ordinary.”

Meanwhile, the timeline for Mat Barzal’s return to the ice has been pushed back. The team indicated on Saturday that he will likely begin skating on either Thursday or Friday, with reports suggesting he is making good progress.

Initially, it was planned for Barzal to take a two-week break from skating, which would have brought him back right at the season opener. However, general manager Mathieu Darche updated that Barzal is expected to skate over the weekend or early next week.