For the first time in what seems like a long time, the focus of New York goaltending is dressed in blue and orange.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin has been named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week of Nov. 21-27. Sorokin, 27, went 3-0-0 in his appearances last week, posting a goals-against average of 1.32 and a save percentage of .963 (according to the NHL’s PR department). His week was highlighted by a career-high 49-save shutout performance against the Edmonton Oilers on Thanksgiving Eve. That shutout was only two away from the all-time record for saves in a shutout by an Islanders goalie. It also marked the third most shots that were turned aside in a shutout (Glenn Healy stopped 51 on Jan. 16, 1990, against the Vancouver Canucks, and Jaroslav Halak turned away 50 shots on Feb. 15, 2018, against the New York Rangers).
Sorokin has given up only four goals in his last three starts and has won five of his last seven appearances dating back to Nov. 7 against Calgary.
As of Nov. 28, Sorokin currently ranks third in the league in the goals-against average column (2.19) and is tied for second with Colorado’s Alexandar Georgiev with a .933 save percentage.
The Islanders (15-8-0, second in the Metropolitan division) went 4-0-0 last week, including five wins in the team’s last seven outings. New York is on the road to complete its home-and-home set with the Philadelphia Flyers before returning home to host the Nashville Predators on Friday night to begin a three-game homestand.
