Starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin is one of the most important pieces to the New York Islanders' rebounding after a shaky 2024-25 season.
However, the play of his backup will be critical in the organization qualifying for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
On Wednesday, the NHL released the 2025-26 regular season schedule. The Islanders will play 16 back-to-back games this season:
- Oct 30 @ CAR Oct 31 @ WSH (Road + Road)
- Nov 7 vs MIN Nov 8 @ NYR (Home + Travel)
- Nov 13 @ VGK Nov 14 @ UTA (Road + Road)
- Nov 22 vs STL Nov 23 vs SEA (Home + Home)
- Dec 6 @ TBL Dec 7 @ FLA (Road + Road)
- Dec 19 vs VAN Dec 20 @ BUF (Home + Road)
- Dec 27 vs NYR Dec 28 @ CBJ (Home + Road)
- Jan 28 vs NYR Jan 29 @ NYR (Home + Road)
- Feb 2 @ WSH Feb 3 vs PIT (Road + Home)
- Feb 28 @ CBJ Mar 1 vs FLA (Road + Home)
- Mar 4 @ ANA Mar 5 @ LAK (Road + Road)
- Mar 13 vs LAK Mar 14 vs CGY (Home + Home)
- Mar 21 @ MTL Mar 22 vs CBJ (Road + Home)
- Mar 30 vs PIT Mar 31 @ BUF (Home + Road)
- Apr 3 vs PHI Apr 4 @ CAR (Home + Road)
- Apr 11 vs OTT Apr 12 vs MTL (Home + Home)
How does that compare to the rest of the NHL?
On average, NHL teams have 12 back-to-backs for this upcoming season. The Islanders have the most with 16, with the Seattle Kraken scheduled with the fewest, at seven.
In 2024-25, the New York Islanders had 12 back-to-back games, going 6-4-2 on the front ends and 5-7-0 on the back ends, per MSG statistician Eric Hornick.
As of right now, we are not sure who will be Sorokin's backup for the 2025-26 season.
Veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov was limited to just 10 games this past season, sustaining a lower-body injury in late November, which required season-ending surgery.
His rehab has been progressing well, but given his age, 37, we'll see if he's ready to return by the start of the season. Varlamov has two seasons remaining on his contract, which is worth $2.75 million annually.
Varlamov is the No. 1 option if he's healthy. If not, there's a battle for the No. 2 spot until he is.
Last season, Marcus Hogberg filled Varlamov's role, but it was a tale of two halves.
Coming back to the NHL after three years back home in Sweden, Hogberg posted a 2-2-0 record through his first seven appearances — four starts — with a 1.45 GAA and a .947 SV%.
But, after sustaining a right hand injury before the NHL's 4 Nations break, Hogberg struggled mightily to keep the success going upon his return. He went 0-4-0 over his last eight appearances of the season, posting a 5.00 GAA with an .821 SV%.
So, depending on which Hogberg shows up to training camp — he is on the books for one more season worth $775,000, but it is a two-way deal — the No. 2 job may be going to David Rittich, who signed a one-year, $1 million deal this summer.
His deal is just one-way.
On a team where starter Darcy Kuemper was a Vezina Trophy finalist, the former Los Angeles Kings backup struggled.
He posted an .886 SV% — that tied a career low — adding a 2.84 GAA in 34 appearances, going 16-14-2.
Sorokin, coming off offseason back surgery, posted a career-low .907 SV% with an elevated 2.71 GAA in 61 appearances, tying a career high with 60 starts. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy, because of the Varlamov injury and the question marks surrounding Hogberg, felt like he had no choice but to turn to Sorokin as much as possible.
That's a recipe that didn't work nor has it in the past, but what were the options? Once Hogberg gained Roy's trust, he went to him more before Hogberg began to struggle again.
Now, Sorokin has played both games of back-to-backs before, but that's never ideal.
There's 32 points on the line in these back-to-backs and the Islanders' record in these situations will undoubtedly play a part in whether or not they make the playoffs.
If Sorokin isn't forced to play both of any of these back-to-backs -- we'll see what the Islanders need for points look like down the stretch -- that means he'll be making, at most, 66 starts in 2025-26.
Obviously, that won't be happening because backup goaltenders play more than 16 games in a season.
Outside of last season, Varlamov had made more than 20 starts in each full season of his career.
Rittich made 31 starts last season, with Hogberg making 11.
PHOTO: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images