The Islanders may have all kinds of noise swirling around them heading into the 2026-27 season, but one part of the picture is crystal clear: Ilya Sorokin gives them a massive advantage in goal.
That matters because the rest of the forecast around New York is split. Some analysts see a team with real upside after last season’s 91-point finish, especially with Peter DeBoer now behind the bench. Others think the Islanders didn’t do enough this offseason to keep pace with the other playoff hopefuls in the Eastern Conference, and a few projections have them sliding near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
Through all of that, Sorokin is the constant.
The Islanders’ star netminder was the Vezina Trophy runner-up last season and carried the club through long stretches. New York stayed in the playoff chase largely because of him, and when he faded over the final weeks, the team’s results followed.
That workload showed up in the numbers. Sorokin led the NHL with seven shutouts last season, one reason he landed so highly in a ranking of goalies compiled by 45 coaches and former goalies, as shared by Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
He was voted No. 3 at the position, trailing only Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were tied for first. Only one panelist left Sorokin out of the top tier, which was labeled “World Class”.
“He’s got the best net-feel game in the game,” a coach said.
The respect wasn’t just about reputation. Sorokin faced more high-danger shots than anyone else in 2025-26, and he stopped them at a rate nobody else matched. He saw 523 shots from within 30 feet and posted a .864 save percentage on them, well above the league average of .811.
“He’s got a read on the game,” another coach said. “He competes.
He’s lanky. He’s so good.”
He backed that up again to open the new season, stopping 37 shots in a shutout against the New Jersey Devils to give the Islanders their first victory of 2026-27.
If New York is going to outplay the expectations being thrown its way, it starts with Sorokin doing exactly what he’s been doing: bailing them out, game after game, when the margin is razor thin.
In Other News...
Islanders Bring Back A Beloved Home Opener Moment Fans Will Remember
The Islanders are set to open their home schedule with a familiar and heartwarming face in the spotlight. Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old World War II veteran and decorated Army staff sergeant, will return to UBS Arena to perform the national anthem before the game against the Devils, bringing back the kind of pregame moment that tends to linger with a crowd long after the puck drops.
Critelli already left a mark on Islanders fans once, when he played the anthem on his saxophone before a game last December and drew a memorable reaction inside the building. He still practices the instrument every day, and this latest appearance gives the home opener a personal touch that fits the kind of connection the Islanders have tried to build with their fans at Nassau Countys successor in Elmont. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders New-Look Lineup Just Delivered A Much-Needed Boost
The Islanders got the kind of response they were looking for in their home opener, rolling past the Devils 6-0 and giving a new-look lineup an immediate lift. Simon Holmstrom, Brayden Schenn, Bo Horvat, Victor Eklund, Ondrej Palat and Casey Cizikas all found the net, a balanced scoring outburst that suggested there may be more depth here than the early chatter around the roster change. It was the sort of start that can settle a building quickly and give a team some much-needed confidence.
Ilya Sorokin made sure the result never got away from New York, turning away New Jersey chances while the Islanders kept adding to the lead. The Devils had looks on the power play, but nothing they tried broke through, and the night ended with the kind of all-around performance the Islanders have been searching for as they try to make this reshaped group feel a little more settled. There was also a milestone baked into the win that fit the mood perfectly, even if it almost got lost in the scoring parade. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Just Got An Emotional Reminder Of A Beloved Voice
Howie Rose has been part of New York sports for so long that his voice feels tied to the seasons themselves, and recent days brought one of those quiet reminders of just how much he has meant to the Islanders community. After recently calling the final Mets game of his broadcasting career, Rose is preparing to move with his wife to Florida on Monday, closing another major chapter in a New York run that stretched across generations of fans.
The Islanders recognized Rose for his long run behind the microphone, and several former and current players and colleagues took the chance to reflect on the way he covered the team and connected with people around it. For a fan base that grew up hearing him on television, the moment carried a familiar mix of gratitude and sadness, the kind that comes when a beloved voice is still very much present but about to become part of memory. [Read more 🡒]