Ilya Sorokin Was Not the Problem in the Islanders Loss to New Jersey | NYHN+

When the final buzzer sounded on Sunday and the New York Islanders second loss of the season was a done deal, there was a lot to not like about their game against New Jersey. One item that should not be too high on that list was the play of Ilya Sorokin.

The rookie netminder started in just his second career NHL game on Sunday in the Islanders 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. While the effort wasn’t perfect, he did what you’d expect out of any goaltender on any given night. He gave them a chance to win.

Ilya Sorokin finished the night with 22 saves and a .917 save percentage, which was not a bad effort in only his second game in North America. It was by far a big improvement over his first start the weekend prior.

“I felt good today, better than the first game,” Sorokin said. “I’m disappointed with the second game, second loss, but the team helped me. Teammates helped me and I hope with work I’ll be good.”

The Islanders didn’t play as sloppily as they did last Saturday in Sorokin’s first start against the New York Rangers, but for the second consecutive time, they failed to score. The Isles were limited in their chances through the first two periods before turning it up a notch in the final 20 minutes of the game.

The result was Sorokin’s second loss and he became the first Islanders goalie to lose his first two starts without the team scoring, according to Eric Hornick.

“That’s not the way we’d like to welcome him into our first couple of games for him by any means,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “We owe him quite a bit here. We’ll make sure we get him back and I know he’s going to stand tall for us. Just a couple of things aren’t on him, there on us as a team. We’ll bounce back together.”

Sorokin’s comfortability on Sunday night was clearly noticeable. The Russian moved in the net with much more ease and crispness against New Jersey than he did against New York.

And he appeared to track the puck better.

“It’s all about experience. It’s just my second game in the NHL,” Sorokin said. “It’s differnt speed. A different level and I believe with work I should be better. Goalie is a very important position in the game and you should give chances to your teammates every game and every time.”

There is still plenty of work to be done by Sorokin as he adjusts to the NHL game and he was by no means perfect on Sunday. New Jersey’s second goal is one that he’d like to have back. After stopping the initial shot from the high slot, the young goalie left a juicy rebound for New Jersey to put home, which it did.

“I thought he made a couple of big saves when it was 1-0 and it was 2-0,” head coach Barry Trotz said. “He’s learning this league a little bit. I think probably the second one just a little bit of that rebound control. One got away from him and they were able to get that second one. Other than that I thought he played pretty solid. … The more he plays in the league the more he’ll get used to and we’ll get him a win.”

With two games under his belt, his development is coming along. The expectations that Ilya Sorokin came over with are painting people’s perception of him early on in his Islanders career.

Fair or not, that comes with the territory when you’re the most touted goalie prospect in the organization for years. However, it should be understood that there is still an adjustment period, even for the best of players that go from the large-sized rink to the small rink and faster-paced play of the NHL.

And Sorokin is doing it without getting any time in the AHL.

Remember, fellow Russian goalies Ilya Samsonov and Igor Shesterkin both got time in the minor leagues. Shesterkin played 25 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack before he was given a chance to play in the NHL and Samsonov played 37 games in Hershey.

Sorokin won’t go through the same routine. He’s getting his crash course on the North American game in the NHL.

Through his first two starts in the NHL Sorokin has surrendered six goals against and is still looking for that first win. Shesterkin gave up six goals through his first two NHL starts, but won both contests.

The difference? The New York Rangers scored in both of those games to help out their young netminder.