Over recent seasons, the Islanders repeatedly fell into a pattern where Ilya Sorokin’s excellence turned into a double‑edged sword, as the pressure to start him in nearly every game down the stretch led to overuse.
With two additional games on this year’s schedule, head coach Pete DeBoer is already working to avoid repeating that mistake.
Given the likelihood of another tight playoff race, there may be moments when resting Sorokin becomes difficult. His best approach is to lean more heavily on the rotation early in the season, aiming for at least 30 starts from backup goaltender Semyon Varlamov.
“If we find ourselves in that situation again, I need to ensure he’s set up to perform without fatigue,” DeBoer said. “That’s why we must manage his workload early in the season. We should expect a battle that lasts to the final game, and if we need to start him in several consecutive games down the stretch, he must have enough stamina to endure.”
For example, Sorokin skipped Saturday’s morning skate before starting against the Devils in the home opener, where he posted 37 saves in a 6‑0 shutout at UBS Arena.
Having a full‑time emergency backup goaltender will create more opportunities for such rest days for both Sorokin and Varlamov.
Over the summer, Sorokin told Russian outlet Sport Express that much of his offseason focus centered on his body and recovery, anticipating a heavy workload.
He clarified to The Post on Friday that this did not necessarily require altering his routine.
“It was system work,” Sorokin said on Friday. “There isn’t a big difference between what I’m doing now and what I did before. It’s just hard work—something every player does in the summer, so it’s nothing special.”
The Islanders have delayed Mat Barzal’s (left kneecap) return to skating for a second time, announcing on Saturday that he will likely step onto the ice either Thursday or Friday, noting that he continues to make good progress.
Originally, the plan called for two weeks off the ice, which would have placed him back on the rink the same day as the season opener. On Wednesday in Toronto, general manager Mathieu Darche indicated that Barzal could resume skating over the weekend or early next week.
