NY Islanders season may come down to shootouts and Ilya Sorokin knows it

If the New York Islanders’ season ends up being defined by one thing, it might not be a power play, a defensive lapse, or even a trade deadline move. It could come down to the shootout. That is not an exaggeration; it is a trend that is shaping the Isles’ season in real time.

The numbers tell the story. The Isles have lost five straight shootouts, nine of their last eleven, and 22 of their last 28 overall. At UBS Arena, they are just 3-10 all-time in shootouts, a haunting record for a team that consistently finds itself playing tight, low-scoring games.

On Friday morning at Northwell Health Ice Center, Patrick Roy was back in the crease trying to get inside the head of Ilya Sorokin after the franchise goaltender asked for the Hall of Famer's help.

“He asked me about how I [played] shootouts,” Roy said per the New York Post before the Isles’ 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild later that night, in which Sorokin did not play. “I just explained to him what I was trying to do, force guys to beat me inside instead of shooting. At the end of the day, I really appreciate that he came to me. I feel like it’s a great step.”

Sorokin’s decision to seek advice speaks volumes. The Islanders’ franchise netminder has lost both shootouts he has faced this season and owns a career mark of 7-16 with a .623 save percentage. For a goalie of his caliber, that statistic stands out like a blemish on an otherwise strong résumé.

Tuesday’s shootout loss to Boston only fueled the urgency. Bruins forward Marat Khusnutdinov said afterward he knew Sorokin would bite on his first move, a scouting report that has surely made its way around the league. Moving forward, Sorokin’s nerves and execution in shootouts could determine just how far the Islanders go this season. Roy will do what he can, leaning on his experience and the film's guidance to help the franchise goaltender searching for solutions.