DETROIT — The difference between good and great goaltending this season has been evident for the Islanders.
Ilya Sorokin, a year ago, was great — a .924 save percentage and an astounding 51.36 goals saved above expected, per Evolving Hockey that made him a Vezina Trophy finalist and helped the Islanders sneak into the playoffs.
Sorokin, this year, has fallen a little short of that standard.
No one will begrudge him a season in which he came into Thursday’s 5-3 win against Detroit with a .909 save percentage and 9.18 goals saved above expected.
But a second straight year as a top-three Vezina finisher looks unlikely.
If Sorokin can rediscover that extra level of his game over the season’s last six weeks, though, it will again make all the difference to the Islanders’ playoff hopes. And over a two-game road trip, that is just what he did.
“Whenever we win, I feel good,” the typically understated Sorokin said. “Get a break and get ready for next game.”
By the raw numbers, Sorokin’s wins over Dallas and Detroit were nothing incredible — combined, he stopped 52 of 57 shots, and Islanders coach Patrick Roy noted how well the defense played in front of him against the Red Wings.
But for timely saves at timely moments, Sorokin was as dependable as it gets, stopping a Roope Hintz breakaway in the third in Dallas, turning in a perfect night on the penalty kill in Detroit and stretching to protect the post on Patrick Kane’s two-on-one chance late in the third on Thursday.
The official scoring gave Sorokin credit for the save on Kane, though the Islanders believed the shot went off the post. Regardless, his toe was in place for the stop.
Focused as ever, Sorokin did not think he’d hit another level recently — and hadn’t really even thought much about it.
“I can’t say about this [because] when I say something, next game, s- -t happens,” he said. “It’s all I can do. Just focus on small details and that’s it. Not look at big picture.”
Hudson Fasching (lower body) is likely to be recalled from a conditioning stint with AHL Bridgeport shortly, but not activated off long-term injured reserve. Samuel Bolduc, who is not injured, will stay on his conditioning assignment for the time being.
Scott Mayfield (lower body) and Robert Bortuzzo (high ankle sprain) have yet to skate on their own while back in New York.
