Reports: NY Islanders Gifted Star Erased all doubt that he was healthy in season debut

Sorokin made 32 saves in the team’s 6-2 win at Colorado

While it might still be premature to gauge whether New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin will regain his Vezina finalist status this season, he proved on Monday night that he is fit to reclaim his position as the team’s starting goaltender. In his first game of the season, Sorokin made 32 saves during the Islanders’ 6-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Arena, dispelling any doubts about his health and readiness for a significant workload.

After conceding a goal just 1:01 into the opening period, Sorokin and the Islanders rallied against a struggling Avalanche team, scoring five unanswered goals for their first win. The Islanders controlled much of the play during the first two periods, and Sorokin rose to the occasion when the home team scored on a power play and tried to mount a comeback in the third period.

“I thought he was exceptional in the third period,” head coach Patrick Roy said of Sorokin, who made 16 saves on 17 shots during that final frame. “We didn’t give them much in the first two periods; he made some key saves here and there, but in the third, [Colorado] had some great opportunities. He was very solid and exuded a lot of confidence, which is great for us.”

Behind the scenes, teammates have witnessed firsthand the dedication Sorokin has shown to prepare himself for the season after undergoing back surgery this summer. This off-season has been different for the Russian goaltender in several ways. Alongside his rehabilitation, he focused on correcting the minor flaws that affected his performance during the 2023-24 season, specifically regarding positioning and rebound control.

Making his season debut, he showed no signs of rust despite missing training camp. Even better, he appeared to be in command in the crease, showcasing his signature split during his first highlight-reel save of the season. Sorokin energized the Islanders on Monday night and seems poised to continue providing that spark throughout the year.