Ben Shelley: Weekly Recap: Islanders Edition (April 18)

Hopefully Sorokin gets the start on Tuesday.

Hopefully Sorokin gets the start again until he loses, I think he is ready to be the number one. He looks totally settled in and confident. I am hoping!

Hopefully this team rallies behind Sorokin because he’s the ONLY reason they won last night. They better right this ship because these next six games could get ugly real quick.

Trotz says he needs to see more from #Isles top guys. But also from the younger guys, took Noah Dobson out because of his performance last couple games, says he hasn't been getting enough from Oliver Wahlstrom lately. Says it's a grind for the younger players.

Hopefully Sorokin gets the start on Tuesday.
- maximumcarnage

Varly has been pretty friggin good against the Rangers this year.

Varly has been pretty friggin good against the Rangers this year.
- niteislander

Varly has been solid all season and it’s not a knock against him. I feel Sorokin is in a zone right now and I want them to keep him in the net. Hopefully he can handle playing multiple games in a row and possibly play Varly the first or second game against the Crapitols.

Hopefully this team rallies behind Sorokin because he’s the ONLY reason they won last night. They better right this ship because these next six games could get ugly real quick.
- Cptmjl

Is it possible with the system they play under Trotz that they are just mentally and physically tired. No team benefited more from the shut down last season than the Islanders. It just looks like the same thing is happening again and I hope they can wake up from the funk they are in.

Varly has been pretty friggin good against the Rangers this year.
- niteislander

If I were trotz I would go with varlamov and that’s not a knock on Sorokin he has been great I just would stick with what we’ve been doing. Goaltending has not been the teams issue.

Is it possible with the system they play under Trotz that they are just mentally and physically tired. No team benefited more from the shut down last season than the Islanders. It just looks like the same thing is happening again and I hope they can wake up from the funk they are in.
- maximumcarnage

Maybe. I said the same thing on here a few days ago. Kind of a carbon copy of last season minus we don’t have the break unfortunately.

Is it possible with the system they play under Trotz that they are just mentally and physically tired. No team benefited more from the shut down last season than the Islanders. It just looks like the same thing is happening again and I hope they can wake up from the funk they are in.
- maximumcarnage

It's certainly possible that they are tired. The regular season is a grind. But all teams have to deal with it. Trotz's system may be more tiring than others, but it's also the reason for much of the team's success. They don't have the talent to win games when they don't show up.........except for maybe the goalies who have stolen quite a few games for them this season.

I think the primary reason for the recent poor play can be summed up in one word: Lee. His value extends beyond just his goal-scoring. When he parks his big old self in front of the crease, they are far more likely to score, regardless of whether he picks up the loose change, just because he blocks the goalie's vision. He also wins a lot of the puck battles in the offensive zone, which is critical to the forecheck.

Last season, they lost Pelech, who is arguably their best all-around d-man. So I'd say losing one of their key players is more the reason for the team falling into funks than getting tired from Trotz's system.

I only want to see varly in back to back situations going forward. Leddy was looking to pass on the winner yesterday. If the Islanders give up the first goal the game is over might as well shut it off they are not coming back. Does Trotz expect to win 1-0 every single game. That is what our goalies are reduced to at this point. Having to shutout our opponents to have a chance

I only want to see varly in back to back situations going forward. Leddy was looking to pass on the winner yesterday. If the Islanders give up the first goal the game is over might as well shut it off they are not coming back. Does Trotz expect to win 1-0 every single game. That is what our goalies are reduced to at this point. Having to shutout our opponents to have a chance
- Hockeyislife

You're an isles fan right

You're an isles fan right
- Upstate_isles

Yes since 1981

It's certainly possible that they are tired. The regular season is a grind. But all teams have to deal with it. Trotz's system may be more tiring than others, but it's also the reason for much of the team's success. They don't have the talent to win games when they don't show up.........except for maybe the goalies who have stolen quite a few games for them this season.

I think the primary reason for the recent poor play can be summed up in one word: Lee. His value extends beyond just his goal-scoring. When he parks his big old self in front of the crease, they are far more likely to score, regardless of whether he picks up the loose change, just because he blocks the goalie's vision. He also wins a lot of the puck battles in the offensive zone, which is critical to the forecheck.

Last season, they lost Pelech, who is arguably their best all-around d-man. So I'd say losing one of their key players is more the reason for the team falling into funks than getting tired from Trotz's system.
- JohnScammo

The isls have a great team. They remind me of 2012-2015 Rangers. Unfortunately Barzal is the only elite forward on this team, similar to Nash for the rangers, but Barzal is the better player. When Anders Lee is your second best forward thats a problem. They need to add more talent up front bc when the system is not working its hard for them score goals. Their goalie tandem and defense will carry them in the PO IMO. Wish this season was longer as I think it would have been fun down the stretch for both teams.

My opinion I feel Sorokin is the type of goalie who builds momentum the more he plays and it is the main reason I would like to see him get the start on Tuesday.

I am not concerned Varly will struggle if he gets the start. I feel confident he will play well. I guess I would like to see if Sorokin can be a true number one starter going forward.

It seems like since the trade was made they gave up are just not trying very hard.

Glad they got the two points yesterday, but man, they gotta find their rhythm again. I was on the road this weekend so I listened to the game on XM and had the Flyers' radio broadcast, and all they could talk about is how surprised they were at how off kilter the Isles looked compared to the last time the two teams played, and from what I was able to hear, anyway, it was hard to argue with that.

Lee's a part of it, but the team found a way to bear down and get goals without him. It's really since the deadline that they've just looked sort of lost. I can't help wondering if they overthought things when the new guys came in...benching people, changing lines, etc. It can't be a coincidence that all these guys have gone cold at the same time. I don't know, maybe just plugging the two new guys into the obvious holes -- first-line LW and third-line LW -- and leaving everything else wouldn't have been such a shock to the system.

Whatever it is, I just hope they figure it out in time to hold down a playoff spot and keep home ice.

Glad they got the two points yesterday, but man, they gotta find their rhythm again. I was on the road this weekend so I listened to the game on XM and had the Flyers' radio broadcast, and all they could talk about is how surprised they were at how off kilter the Isles looked compared to the last time the two teams played, and from what I was able to hear, anyway, it was hard to argue with that.

Lee's a part of it, but the team found a way to bear down and get goals without him. It's really since the deadline that they've just looked sort of lost. I can't help wondering if they overthought things when the new guys came in...benching people, changing lines, etc. It can't be a coincidence that all these guys have gone cold at the same time. I don't know, maybe just plugging the two new guys into the obvious holes -- first-line LW and third-line LW -- and leaving everything else wouldn't have been such a shock to the system.

Whatever it is, I just hope they figure it out in time to hold down a playoff spot and keep home ice.
- UIF

Even yesterday the winning goal leddy scored went off a flyers stick. Leddy was looking to pass and it went off the stick and in. The shots at one point was 23-9 flyers. This is the 2nd worst defense in the league the flyers.

Since the beginning of February, Ilya Sorokin leads the NHL in GAA (1.67) and save ptcg (.934)

Since the beginning of February, Ilya Sorokin leads the NHL in GAA (1.67) and save ptcg (.934)
- keaner17

Are those good numbers?

Even yesterday the winning goal leddy scored went off a flyers stick. Leddy was looking to pass and it went off the stick and in. The shots at one point was 23-9 flyers. This is the 2nd worst defense in the league the flyers.
- Hockeyislife

It's kind of sums up on how the Flyers season is going when they kept talking about how well Sanheim was playing and he is the guy who made a great tip and scored on his own goalie.

Are those good numbers?
- eichiefs9

What happened to .889?

What happened to .889?
- Upstate_isles

Travis Flynn @NDRedEagle
10m
Consider this isn't driven by games vs BUF/NJD.

Sorokin's save% vs other teams since 2/1:

1.000 v PIT
.958 v PHI
.973 @ PHI
.556 @ PIT
.938 v PHI
.926 v PHI
.923 v NYR
.926 v BOS
1.000 @ PHI

So in 8 of the 9 non-BUF/NJD games since 2/1, Sorokin's given NYI good chance to win.

Travis Flynn @NDRedEagle
10m
Consider this isn't driven by games vs BUF/NJD.

Sorokin's save% vs other teams since 2/1:

1.000 v PIT
.958 v PHI
.973 @ PHI
.556 @ PIT
.938 v PHI
.926 v PHI
.923 v NYR
.926 v BOS
1.000 @ PHI

So in 8 of the 9 non-BUF/NJD games since 2/1, Sorokin's given NYI good chance to win.
- eichiefs9

I have to believe Varly numbers are very good as well but I really want to see what this kid can do when he is a true number one