Ilya Sorokin isn’t exactly thrilled with how the season has kicked off.
Still, Islanders coach Patrick Roy didn’t put the blame on the Jets’ goalie following a 5-2 defeat against the Jets. Sorokin gave up four goals over three games, which included a particularly soft shot from defenseman Logan Stanley that found the net just 14 seconds after the Islanders took a 2-1 lead.
“I have a lot of faith in him,” Roy remarked. “I’m confident in him. Sure, he was accountable for some of the goals, but my confidence remains.”
Roy suggested Sunday that Sorokin is likely to start his fourth straight game against the Oilers on Thursday. This means David Rittich’s backup might not have a chance to step in until Saturday’s game in Ottawa.
Sorokin has a solid reputation with the Isles, but his early-season stats tell a different story: a save percentage of just .854 and a 4.18 GAA without any wins.
“I feel like some of my plays weren’t perfect,” Sorokin admitted. “We have to be better at every moment.”
The Russian goalie acknowledged that while his confidence remains intact, he wasn’t overlooking the poor start both he and the Islanders have experienced.
“It’s been a rough few games. We can’t afford starts like this. Losing three in a row isn’t ideal,” he said.
On top of that, the defense in front of Sorokin hasn’t been particularly supportive, often getting caught on odd-man rushes and having difficulty clearing the net front.
“There’s always something different happening in each game, whether it’s issues behind us, turnovers, or getting beat from the corners,” Scott Mayfield noted. “Mistakes happen.”
“It’s part of the game, but we’re trying to fix it quickly. We can’t afford to keep making the same mistakes. Now it’s time to be more detailed and work on those corrections.”
Meanwhile, Cal Ritchie has been placed on injured reserve and loaned to AHL Bridgeport. Roy explained this move ensures that young players get sufficient playing time.
“He’ll likely be our No. 1 center here,” Roy said. “He’ll be logging a lot of minutes and playing in various situations. We were quite impressed with his performance in training camp and are excited about his development. It’ll be a good opportunity for him.”
