Ilya Sorokin expected to return to the ice soon
Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders pauses during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning after his mask was hit with a shot at UBS Arena on March 27, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Islanders are hoping Ilya Sorokin’s absence will be a short one.
The goalie did not travel with the team for Tuesday night’s 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena after exiting Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Lightning at UBS Arena in the second intermission.
He took shots off his mask in each of the first two periods and the Islanders said he suffered an upper-body injury. Coach Barry Trotz on Tuesday did not specify whether Sorokin went through concussion protocol.
The Islanders will not practice on Wednesday but Trotz said Sorokin will be re-evaluated at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
“He’s feeling better and we’ll see where he is tomorrow,” Trotz said. “If he’s feeling fine, we’ll probably get him on the ice.”
Cory Schneider was brought up from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on emergency recall and served as Semyon Varlamov’s backup.
Martin's No. 800
Rugged left wing Matt Martin logged 10:19 in his 800th NHL regular season game and his 668th with the Islanders. Martin, a fifth-round pick in 2008, joined the Maple Leafs via free agency in 2016, before Lou Lamoriello, who had been the Maple Leafs general manager, re-acquired Martin in 2018 in his first trade as Islanders president and GM.
COVID absences
Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen and assistant Steve McCarthy entered COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday, leaving associate coach Pascal Vincent to run the team’s bench against the Islanders. The Blue Jackets were also missing top defenseman Zach Werenski to injury.
Isles files
Josh Bailey’s goal gave him 543 career points, moving him past Bob Bourne into ninth place on the Islanders’ all-time list and leaving him one point behind John Tonelli…Defenseman Sebastian Aho missed his second straight game with a nagging injury…Ross Johnston was a healthy scratch.
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Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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