Islanders Going With Hogberg Against Sharks: 'He Just Deserves It'

Hogberg has been electric between the pipes for the Islanders this season.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders are planning to go with Marcus Hogberg in goal against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. 

"That's the plan, to go with him," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "He just deserves it. He's played really well for us."

Through his first five appearances in an Islanders' sweater, Hogberg owns a 1.41 GAA and a .953 SV%, with a record of 1-2-0, but not because of his doing, clearly. 

Ilya Sorokin, who has played a lot in the absence of Semyon Varlamov, has struggled to find consistency in his game. 

He's hovered around a .900 SV% through 31 starts, with a 2.87 GAA. 

In their 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, Sorokin stopped 19 of 23. 

If Hogberg does indeed start, he will be between the pipes for the third time in the last four games. While Sorokin was sick for two of those three, it's clear Roy trusts Hogberg right now, and rightfully so.  

Varlamov (LTIR) has yet to skate with the team since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 29 against the Washington Capitals. 

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