Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] goaltender Ilya Sorokin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islander-varlmaov-hrudey-smith-200-game] has been brilliant this season. He's 4-3-1, with a 2.35 GAA and a .921 SV%. While head coach Patrick Roy made it clear that he would be rotating with backup Semyon Varlamov, with the idea being to keep both goaltenders fresh, Sorokin was between the pipes for the last three games. He stopped 32 of 35 in their 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres, 35 of 39, standing on his head against the cross-town rival New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/] in a 5-2 loss, before stopping 32 of 35, including all three shootout shots against in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/]. Now, coming off that big win over Pittsburgh and looking to continue to play that pesky game despite all the injuries, Roy is turning to Semyon Varlamov against the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/]. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNTM3MzE4NDgwNjE5NDk3/usatsi_19863110.jpg] Varlamov has struggled this season, posting a 3.21 GAA and an.876 SV% in five starts. His last game was against the Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/]. He allowed one goal on 25 shots, his best performance of the season. Varlamov is 7-5-3 in 16 games with a 3.07 GAA and .905 SV%, dropping an overtime decision in his last outing against them with four goals on 30 shots on March 16. The Islanders need to see Varlamov raise his game to match the rest of the team. This is not because they need Varlamov to be perfect or because he's been unplayable; that is not true. But, with the depleted defense and the injuries to the forward group, they are going to need him to be at the top of the game.
