Sorokin Reaches 70th-Start Milestone, Elite Level Status

As the first goaltender off the ice Tuesday morning, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin would not only make his fifth consecutive start when the pucked dropped later that evening at UBS Arena against the Florida Panthers, but it would be his 70th career start at the NHL level.

Previously, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz stated that an NHL netminder needed 100 starts under his belt to get a feel on their ability.

But sometimes, 100 starts isn’t needed.

“Well, for me, it’s just that the league’s not too big for him,” Trotz said Tuesday morning. “He’s able to elevate his game to elite status. And he’s gotten used to the different style of the National Hockey League and to me, not necessarily always the game it’s the other stuff. So away from the game. It’s living in a foreign country. It’s having friends and teammates and all that.

“And to me, one of the best things is when he came to us in a bubble not able to play, but that, to me, that has just done as much to help his career as anything that you can do on the ice.”

That elite game that Ilya Sorokin has showcased often was on display again on Tuesday night. He stopped 39 of 41 shots through regulation before he and the Islanders lost 3-2 in overtime to the elite Florida Panthers.

As always, Sorokin gave his team a chance.

His biggest save of the night came during the second period on a shot by Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe, keeping the Islanders up 1-0 at that point in the contest, despite the lopsided shot total.

Your daily dose of Ilya Sorokin making a ridiculous save ⬇️
pic.twitter.com/XaUdWnopEq

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) April 20, 2022

The Florida Panthers, who came into the contest with the sixth-best power-play percentage in the NHL (23.9%), were given five power-play opportunities. Despite scoring on one of them, Sorokin turned aside five of the six power-play shots that came his way.

When New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz was asked after the loss if he’s seen Sorokin get better over the last little stretch here, Trotz was quick to say no.

“No, I don’t see him getting stronger at all. I see him being the same. Good. Very good, actually,” Trotz said.

Over the last five contests, Sorokin owns a 2.78 goals-against average with a .921 save percentage. But, if we break it down to his stats at five-on-five, Sorokin owns a 2.21 GAA with a .946 SV%.

He’s faced a total of 57 high-danger shots against over the last five games at even strength and has stopped 54 of them. And if we throw in all situations, he’s stopped 61 of 67 high-danger shots against.

Through 71 appearances (70 starts) at the NHL level, Ilya Sorokin is 38-22-11, with a 2.28 GAA, a .925 SV%, and 10 shutouts in 4,165 minutes.

Thanks to our friends over at Natural Stat Trick, a quick click of some buttons lets us see where Ilya Sorokin stacks up against other netminders who, since the 2020-21 season, have played 4,080 minutes or more (about 68 starts).

Ilya Sorokin’s 2.28 GAA and .925 SV% rank second behind New York Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin. He’s third in Goals Saved Above Average (36.45), 2nd in High-Danger Save Percentage (.847), and 2nd in High-Danger Goals Saved Above Average (1.22).

Sorokin’s 10 shutouts tie him for 2nd in the NHL since he’s broken into the league.

Last Tuesday, Apr. 12,  after Sorokin and the Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in a shootout, the talk was about the netminder’s play. Although it may not have been his best of starts, he battled throughout the night, coming up large in key moments, especially in overtime and the shootout, in which he was perfect.

That night Zach Parise, who’s played in the NHL for 17 years, was asked about who Sorokin reminds him of. The answer, none other than Hockey Hall of Famer and former teammate of Parise’s, Martin Brodeur.

“Honestly, he reminds me a lot of Marty, with his competitiveness. And you know, Marty was like that where first shot, initial shot, rebound, like, he did not want you to score regardless in practice and Sorokin’s a lot like that.”

When Trotz was asked the question about if there was a netminder that he could compare Sorokin to, he chose recently retired Pekka Rinne, who he coached during his time in Nashville.

“Yeah, Pekka Rinne. Very similar. They’re extremely athletic,” Trotz said. “They feel that every game they can save every puck, every game they feel that they can win. Even when they have no chance to make a save, they still try to make that save, and they sometimes come up with those saves, and they put the weight of the team, they feel they could be a difference-maker every night. ”

Being compared to two outstanding netminders this soon into an NHL career speaks volumes to how Ilya Sorokin is viewed by his teammates and coaches.

Sorokin is one of the most talented goaltenders in the league and although this season was a lost one for the New York Islanders, Ilya Sorokin has undoubtedly been one of the bright spots.