Islanders Face Crucial Decision on Ilya Sorokin in Back-to-Back Games

The New York Islanders are on the brink as they wrap up a three-game road trip with a vital showdown against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Following a narrow 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, the Islanders find themselves outside the playoff picture, amplifying the urgency of every remaining contest.

Head coach Patrick Roy, alongside goaltending coach Sergei Naumovs, faces a pivotal decision regarding the starting goaltender for this weekend’s games. With the Columbus Blue Jackets looming on the horizon for a Sunday night matchup, the question arises: should Ilya Sorokin take the ice for both games?

Considering the standings, where the Blue Jackets are the team the Islanders need to chase down, it might seem logical to give Sorokin the start against Columbus. However, Roy’s approach emphasizes a singular focus on the immediate challenge—defeating Montreal. That means Sorokin is likely to be the starter against the Canadiens, with the decision on the second game hinging on the outcome of Saturday’s contest.

Despite the grueling nature of back-to-back games, Sorokin has proven himself capable, even on short rest. While he hasn’t played both games of a back-to-back this season, he has done so in the past. Last season, he participated in four such situations, with a record of 2-2-0 in the first games and a solid 3-1-0 in the second. Yet for now, the priority remains clear: the Islanders must first conquer Montreal before considering their strategy against Columbus.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.