Islanders Goalie Ilya Sorokin Is Off To The Best Four-Game Start Of His Career

Ilya Sorokin has not only put his back surgery behind him, but he's playing the best hockey we've seen from him to start a season.

Ilya Sorokin is dialed in to start the 2024-25 season. 

After stopping 32 of 35 in a 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night, he now owns a 1.74 GAA with a .936 SV% through four starts. 

Per New York Islanders broadcast statistician Eric Hornick, that's the best four-game start of his NHL career:

"Ilya is just solid. He's always so solid," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "I think that his composure, the way his positioning is...he obviously makes flashy saves, but he makes a lot of tough saves look easy. Sometimes, you almost notice and don't notice his game because he's just so solid in between the pipes, and he's never out of anything."

The 29-year-old, who is in the first year of an eight-year deal worth $8.25 million dollars, was expected to bounce back after a career-worst 2023-24 campaign.

But he's played to an absolutely absurd level to open the season. 

Take a look at his game-by-game numbers:

"He's been phenomenal," Islanders forward Bo Horvat said. "He's making unbelievable saves at key time. He gives it 110 every single time he’s on the net, and we're lucky to have him."

While Sorokin is happy with his game, he wanted to make sure to credit his teammates. 

"The team helps me and make a lot of block shots," Sorokin told The Hockey News following Friday's overtime win. "Sometimes feel not good [about my game]. Sometimes, I start work and feel better and better when they shoot, and I make a save. And I try to build my game and just focus on this one."

Sorokin gives the Islanders a chance to win every time he's between the pipes, and if they are going to get the Sorokin that we saw in 2022-23 when he was a Vezina finalist, the NHL better watch out.