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Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Ilya Sorokin is back - and he needed to be.
Sorokin didn’t steal the game, but he stole a point for the Isles in Colorado who now have four points (1-1-2) in the first four games of their road trip. Sounds better than saying they’ve lost four of five, doesn’t it? Sorokin finished the game having saved 5.09 goals above expected per Natural Hat Trick and stopped 15 high danger shots. It was a vintage (can we say vintage?) Sorokin perofrmance.
"[Sorokin] played great. It was good to see," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "He fought through traffic, fought through deflections, things like that. He was outstanding. I thought we battled. We battled hard. It's a good point for us to have."
There’s been over 3,900 Islanders games, last night was only the 18th to end regulation in a scoreless tie. Sorokin’s 46 save performance was the second-most for a goaltender in a non-winnings shutout in NHL history, behind on Curtis Joseph’s 52-save game in a tie back on Dec. 10, 1996. It’s the second most saves for the 27-year-old in a shutout behind only his 49 save performance vs. Edmonton on Nov. 23.
If there was a teeny bit of concern that his recent struggles were anything more than a blip, last night eradicated those thoughts. In a statistical quirk, despite his 13th career shutout in 97 career game, (already 5th best in Isles history), Sorokin has now has lost sixth straight start, but no longer is on a losing streak after relieving Semyon Varlamov for the final 6:22 against Vegas on Saturday.
During the broadcast, I heard Brendan Burke say the Islanders hadn’t won a game all season without scoring 3 goals. I did a double-take, rewound and heard it again. I then checked Hockey-Reference just to be sure. It’s true.
They had a chance for their first heading into the third period, but were outshot 19-8 in the third and 2-0 in overtime. The Isles then came up empty in the shootout, a frustrating trend that has carried over from the last season.
Coming up, Lou speaks to the media about Lane’s system and is all for more games if it means more games vs. rivals. Plus, Makar’s truth sets Barzal free, Potvin breaks Orr’s record and Butch gets back to Brendan…eventually.
Let’s dive in.
🏒 IN SHORT: Alexandar Georgiev and Ilya Sorokin both earned shutouts, but the Colorado Avalanche earned the two points as Evan Rodrigues scored the only goal in the shootout for a 1-0 win at a sold out Ball Arena on Monday night. Georgiev made 26 saves in his 10th career shutout as the Avalanche (17-11-2) won their fourth game in their last five. Meanwhile, Sorokin had 46 saves for the Islanders (18-13-2) who are now 1-1-2 on their season-high five game road trip. The Avalanche outshot the Islanders 19-8 in the third and 2-0 in overtime.
KEY MOMENT(s):
🔷 The Islanders didn’t muster a shot-on-goal in overtime, despite owning much of the possession. Colorado’s best opportunity came in the final seconds but Sorokin stopped Cale Makar on a one-timer from between the circles off a pass from Mikko Rantanen.
🔻 Evan Rodrigues scored the only goal of the shootout, skating down the right side, went to his backhand before cutting across the crease to his forehand.
🔻 After Simon Holmstrom and Mathew Barzal were both denied, Anthony Beauvillier was the Isles last hope. He came in wide, made a strong move but lost control of the puck as the Avalanche earned the second point.
3 REACTIONS
❶ ACCUMULATION: "That's a big point," Zach Parise said. "The standings, they're tight now and they're going to stay tight till the end of the year. You have to accumulate points. We had our opportunities to get the second one and unfortunately we didn't, so the silver lining take the one."
❷ GRINDED IT OUT: "That's a big point," captain Anders Lee said. "End of a road trip and a long one here. It's tough coming into Colorado [because] you get tired pretty quick, but we grinded this one out and Sorokin had a phenomenal game. It's a big point and now we're looking forward to getting back on the East Coast."
❸ PASSED UP SHOTS: "I thought we generated some, but I thought we at times we passed up some shots, which we can't do," Lane Lambert said. "We got ourselves into areas at times and as far as they're concerned, they have a high powered offensive team, and I thought we battled hard."
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders return to action on Thursday night when they play the New York Rangers for the third and final time this season. The puck drops at MSG at 7:00 PM ET.
📊 STANDINGS: The Washington Capitals picked up an O.T. win in Detroit last night, pulling them into a tie with the Isles with 38 points and tied for the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. The Isles have played one less game.
📰 NEWS: Islanders President of Hockey Operations and GM Lou Lamoriello addressed the media ahead of last night’s game versus the Avalanche and spoke on a number of topics, including expanded schedules and Lane Lambert’s system.
Goaltending
“We'll find out in the next couple of days just to see to what extent, Lamoriello said on the status of Semyon Varlamov. “I do not feel it's going to be long term, by any means.” The Islanders called up veteran Corey Schneider, who has put up impressive numbers (10-3-2, 2.51 GAA with a .921 SV %) in Bridgeport this season. “In the last couple of years, he’s resurrected his career,” Lamoriello said of the 36-year-old backup.
Other Injuries
Along with Varlamov, Kyle Palmieri and Cal Clutterbuck were absent from the morning skate. Lamoriello noted that the injury of the banged-up Clutterbuck is a new one and unrelated to last season’s shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Adam Pelech, who missed his seventh straight game on Monday, hasn’t resumed skating.
Lambert’s System
If one of the primary objectives of hiring Lane Lambert was to create more offense, that has been accomplished. Heading into Monday night’s game, the Isles were 12th in the league in goals scored after finishing 24th a season ago. Lamoriello knows these aren’t Barry Trotz’s Isles anymore and acknowledges there’s been a trade-off to more goal production.
“All the questions about offense, I think, have been answered. Whenever you do that, there is a little sacrifice of defense. I think what we’re (getting) right now is a combination of both. Very pleased with the status of where we’re at right now."
Expanded Schedule
Lamoriello was also asked about the rumored 84-game schedule proposal discussed last week as a way to increase the number of rivalry and intra-division games during the season.
“My reaction to any change is if it makes the game better, I’m for it,” Lamoriello said. “As far as divisional games, I have my opinion on that and it’s very strong. We should play as many divisional games as we possibly can. There’s no question in my mind about that.”
For example, the Isles’ third and final meeting with the rival New York Rangers is on Thursday, Dec. 22, at Madison Square. The Blueshirts only visited Long Island once this season. A travesty.
◾️ After Nikita Soshnikov cleared unconditional waivers on Monday, the team will terminate his contract as he likely resumes his playing career in Russia Soshnikov joined the Islanders in September on a one-year, $750,000 one-way contract. He was without a point in three games with the Islanders this season and had one assist in four AHL games with the Bridgeport Islanders.
🏆 Honesty is the best policy? During the first period, Mathew Barzal was to be called for a tripping penalty, but star defenseman Cale Makar motioned to the referee to wave off the penalty as the replay clearly showed he slipped on his own.
◾️ FIRST TIME, LAST TIME: After the game, Makar admitted to what happened and also said that, despite whatever sportsmanship points he earned, it wouldn’t be happening again. “I honestly didn’t even know he waived it off until I saw it after,” said Barzal after the game. “I thought the ref just made the call. Obviously good sportsmanship on his part. I don’t know if I would have done the same to be honest with you. I’m glad they got it right.”
📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, The Isles are now 6-6-6 in games that are scoreless through 60 minutes. This was the 11th game in Islander history where both goalies earned shutouts; the other seven were decided by an overtime goal.
🗓 THIS DATE IN ISLANDERS’ HISTORY: On Dec. 20, 1985, Denis Potvin became the NHL’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen during the Isles 2-2 tie with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. His assist in the first period on Mike Bossy’s goal gave him 916 points, putting him ahead of Orr. He retired with 1,052 points, which is still the seventh-most among blueliners.
🎧 Hockey Night in New York: Ups and Downs on the Road with Sean Cuthbert and Chris Botta: Sean & Chris discuss the 1-1-1 start to the Isles road trip and choose their all-time favorite Isles team by position.
🔗 The Boss of Long Island: Mike Bossy’s Life Story by Justin Caron, The Hockey Writers “Today we turn back time to appreciate the life and career of New York Islanders’ great, Mike Bossy. He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history. Here is a look at the Hall of Fame right winger’s journey to the NHL and his life afterwards”
🔗 Islanders president Lou Lamoriello believes there should be more divisional games, by Andrew Gross, Newsday “Lamoriello attended last week’s Board of Governors’ meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, where a plan to increase the regular season to 84 games was discussed. The extra two games would ensure each team played all of their divisional rivals four times per season.”
And we leave you with this ….they might be able to finish each other’s sentences by now, but it takes a little longer for Butch Goring to respond and react to Brendan Burke on Twitter based on this funny exchange.
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4 points in 4 games and 0 in Arizona; weird team remains weird.
Goaltending in the 1980's was a wild ride.
I wish AJ had more input a less Shannon's dramatics