The initial prognosis for Ilya Sorokin by the Islanders might have been a bit too hopeful.
As expected, he won’t be back for the Islanders’ first game after the break.
Instead, Sorokin was placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury right before the Saturday matchup against the Rangers, with Marcus Hogberg serving as backup to David Rittich on an emergency basis.
Patrick Roy, the coach, mentioned that there weren’t any setbacks for Sorokin, who practiced on the ice with goaltending coach Sergei Naumovs prior to the team’s skate on Saturday morning.
“Right now, he looks good,” said Roy, perhaps with some slight uncertainty. “But we feel he’ll be back soon. His health is getting better each day.”
Sorokin will accompany the Islanders to Columbus on Sunday for a back-to-back against the Blue Jackets. However, according to Roy, the plan is for Rittich to start both games.
There’s a chance Sorokin could return for the game against the Blackhawks on Tuesday, completing a brief two-game road trip. Yet, Roy avoided making any definitive statements on that front.
The injured reserve placement seems more procedural for Sorokin, as he can be activated on Sunday, just a week after his retroactive designation on December 20.
Overall, while the outlook for Sorokin seems relatively positive, if he does come back on Tuesday or even Thursday against Utah, it might be a relief. Yet, there’s still an air of uncertainty surrounding the situation compared to prior to the break.
When the Islanders announced Sorokin would miss the final game before the holiday – a close victory over the Devils – they referred only to “troublesome issues,” suggesting he was expected back afterward.
As for Rittich, he played back-to-back games several times for the Kings last season, winning three out of four. However, this didn’t seem to significantly influence the Islanders’ current choices.
“I’m focused on tonight’s game,” Roy stated, adding that he could answer the same question tomorrow. “Right now, it’s about the matchup against the Rangers. Everyone’s in a similar situation, and no one has skated for the last three days. I’ve reminded the players that focus and energy are key. It’s important to manage your shift lengths and be ready to bring your A-game.”
