Ilya Sorokin has put up some gaudy numbers since the NY Islanders' goaltending coach change

Since taking over the role as the NY Islanders' number one goaltender, this team has gone the way of Ilya Sorokin. When Sorokin is on his game, the Isles rack up wins. When he’s struggling, the wins don’t come as often.

To start this season, Sorokin struggled out of the gate, as the Isles lost their first three games, beginning behind the 8-ball a week into the season.

Ilya Sorokin is looking like himself once again

On October 22nd, the Islanders decided to move on from goaltending coach Piero Greco, promoting Bridgeport Islanders Goalie Coach Sergei Naumov to the same position with the big club.

Reunited with his goaltender coach from his days with CSKA Moscow, Sorokin had looked like his old self once again.

Since the coaching change, Sorokin is third in the league with 8.17 goals saved above expected according to Evolving Hockey, while sporting a .926 SV% and 2.11 GAA.

Despite blanking the NY Rangers on Saturday, turning away all 33 shots, last night against the NJ Devils was arguably Sorokin’s best performance of the season, with 3.33 goals saved above expected, on the way to a 3-2 OT win.

Playing for arguably the greatest goaltender in NHL history, Sorokin has even picked Patrick Roy’s brain for help in shootouts. Earlier this week, Roy was seen working with Sorokin in the crease after the Islanders lost both shootouts this season.

The skill and athleticism have always been there for Sorokin, leading one to believe his struggles have been more mental than physical. On October 24, the Islanders hired Siana Sylvester as the organization's Mental Performance Consultant. While there is no information as to who Sylvester has been working with directly, it's possible she has been working with Sorokin, leading to more success on the ice. 

The Isles go as Sorokin goes, and if he continues on this trajectory, the Isles could see the tallies in the win column pile up.