Ilya Sorokin has a huge opportunity on Saturday against the Rangers.
From being the sure starter for the New York Islanders, to splitting time, to becoming Semyon Varlamov's backup down the stretch run here, Ilya Sorokin needs a strong start against the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
Not only do the Islanders have a chance to clinch a playoff spot and third place, but Sorokin has the chance to find his game before entering the final week of the regular season.
After losing six straight games, Sorokin snapped the skid with an 18-save effort in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Apr. 2. He parlayed that victory two days later with a 25-save performance in a 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Despite the wins and stronger play, Sorokin wasn't overly sharp, and there's a reason why head coach Patrick Roy went back to Varlamov for the last three "must-win" games.
When we asked Roy on Thursday morning who was starting in goal against the Montreal Canadiens, the bench boss said Varlamov would get the nod, his third straight, and that Sorokin would be in between the pipes against the cross-town rival New York Rangers on Saturday.
The Islanders haven't clinched a playoff spot yet, so it was shocking that Roy decided Sorokin would play against the Rangers on Saturday before seeing the outcome of Thursday's affair.
After Varlamov stopped 12 of 14 in a 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens, Roy was asked if his performance impacted Saturday's goalie decision.
"We have two very good goaltenders," Roy said. "Ilya played really well against Chicago and Columbus. He gave up one goal against Chicago and two against Columbus. So no, Varlamov's performance doesn't [change the decision].
"We're going with Ilya."
Yes, Sorokin needs to find his game. Yes, the Islanders will need Sorokin to be at his best in the playoffs.
But this game against the Rangers is likely more about Sorokin showing Roy that he can be relied upon if these two teams were to meet in the first round.
Sorokin was tasked with the first two games against the Rangers this season, but the results were anything but pretty.
He's allowed 11 goals in two games, owning a 5.51 GAA with a .841 SV%, losing the outdoor match 6-5 in overtime before the Islanders were embarrassed on Madison Square Garden ice 5-2 a few weeks later.
Varlamov played the third meeting of the season, excelling between the pipes in a 4-2 win, making 31 saves back on Tuesday.
Right now, it would be hard to argue that Varlamov shouldn't get the first game of the playoffs with the way he is locked in, regardless of the opponent.
But as Roy said, he has two very good goalies when both play to the level expected.
Sorokin's numbers this season are what they are, and a good start won't change them, but it could certainly make him, Roy, and the Islanders feel good about where his game is at if and when they need to go to him whether that's against the Rangers in the first round or the Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated the Islanders after six games last postseason.
Lambert and Roy have given Sorokin all three games against the Hurricanes this season, with the 2023 Vezina finalist going 1-1-1 with a 3.66 GAA and a .908 SV%.
No one knows more about a goaltender's mindset than the Islanders' Hockey Hall of Fame head coach. He knows how elite Sorokin can be when he's on his game, the same way he knows that Varlamov is in a zone right now, hence the starts.
With Varlamov getting a rest day and likely starting against the New Jersey Devils on Monday and potentially the Pittsburgh Penguins to close out the season on Wednesday, Saturday could be Sorokin's last tune-up before the postseason.
Can he put together an impressive performance and help the Islanders win their seventh straight game?