Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin placed on injured reserve
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin against the Vancouver Canucks last Friday. Credit: AP/Noah K. Murray
The Islanders returned from their three-day NHL holiday break with a potential huge piece of coal in their stocking.
The team announced on Saturday morning No. 1 goalie Ilya Sorokin (lower body) has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 20. That means David Rittich will make his third straight start as the Islanders face the Rangers on Saturday night at UBS Arena with Marcus Hogberg, on emergency recall from AHL Bridgeport, serving as the backup.
Sorokin is eligible to be activated in time for Sunday’s game in Columbus to start a two-game road trip, though it’s unclear whether he will travel with the team.
Sorokin last played in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Canucks on Dec. 19 and served as the backup to Rittich the next night in Buffalo.
On Monday, the Islanders announced Sorokin would be given an extended rest through the holiday week, though coach Patrick Roy said at the time the team did not consider it a serious issue.
“It was something that was nagging him,” Roy said. “We didn’t want to take any chances.
Sorokin is 12-10-2 with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
Meanwhile, leading scorer Bo Horvat (19 goals, 12 assists) was set to make his return to the Islanders’ lineup against the Rangers after missing five games with a left leg/ankle injury.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
