Sorokin Left Hanging

We are five games into the 2020-21 NHL Season and the New York Islanders sit at 3-2-0 to begin the season. One of the major storylines going into this season was rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin. He had a lot of questions coming into the year, like how well would he adjust to North America? How well would he adjust to the new style of play over here on a smaller ice surface? He's put up good numbers to begin his career, but after his first two starts in the big leagues, he's still in search of his first win. Why is that? The guys in front of him aren't getting him support.

Both of the Islanders losses this season have come with Sorokin in net.Not sure if that's considence or not, but its worth pointing out. He was better in his last outing on Sunday against the Devils, compared to his first start against the Rangers in the second game of the year. This isn't a shot at Sorokin by any means, his numbers have been OK. He's given up seven goals in the two starts, which I attribute to getting used to the new angles and what not playing on the smaller ice surfaces here in North America. He's got a 3.57 goals against average and an .857 Save percentage. Again decent numbers given the adjustment.

But in the two games Sorokin has started, the Islanders were shut out in both games, 5-0 by the Rangers and 2-0 by New Jersey. That's a problem. Yes I do realize that its five games into what is going to be a very strange 2020-21 hockey season, but that's already setting off a little alarm in my head. You scored a total of nine goals with Varlamov in net, but Sorokin gets no support. I really can't explain why the Islanders offense seems to disappear when Varly isn't in the nets. Maybe I'm reading into something way too early in the season, which is possible a lot of fans will do that.

Sorokin seemed to find his game a little more against the Devils compared to his first start on boardway. But not getting any offensive support has got to be a little bit frustrating. Maybe by his next start, which could possibly be this weekend against the Flyers in the back to back, the offense can actually show up and give him some goal support?