Islanders' Lane Lambert not worried about Ilya Sorokin after clunker vs. Penguins
Mike Reilly of the Islanders falls into the net past Ilya Sorokin during the second period against the Penguins at UBS Arena on Wednesday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Ilya Sorokin couldn’t remember surrendering six goals in a period. But, as far as Islanders coach Lane Lambert was concerned, his goalie was “hung out to dry” by the defensive effort in Wednesday night’s 7-0 loss to the Penguins at UBS Arena.
The Penguins scored six goals on 20 shots in the second period before Sorokin was pulled for Semyon Varlamov.
“A six-goal period, it’s the right choice,” Sorokin said.
But Sorokin declined to answer a question about the Islanders’ defense.
“l can just [talk] about my game,” said Sorokin, who stopped all five shots he faced in the first period before being pulled for the first time this season.
Sorokin fell to 10-5-7 this season with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. Last season, he went 31-22-7 with a 2.33 GAA and .924 save percentage as he finished second in the Vezina Trophy balloting.
But Lambert said he’s not worried about Sorokin’s overall performance.
“Not at all,” Lambert said.
Mayfield update
Defenseman Scott Mayfield (injured reserve/upper body), who missed his seventh game, participated in the morning skate.
“He’s getting closer so that’s important,” Lambert said. “It’s a good step to see him out there in that situation. Don’t have a timetable for him but getting closer now that he’s with the team.”
Isles files
Linesman Jonny Murray missed a few minutes of the second period after catching a high stick from the Penguins’ Lars Eller under his face shield…Rickard Rakell’s opening goal was initially blown dead because it appeared Sorokin had the puck smothered. That call was overturned via video review. “The rule is if there’s a mistake made and the puck is continuous — in other words, he dropped it — it’s a goal,” Lambert said . . . Defenseman Grant Hutton and left wing Matt Martin remained healthy scratches.
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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