Isles' Ken Appleby replaces Ilya Sorokin in third period, makes first NHL appearance in six years
New York Islanders goaltender Kenneth Appleby defends the net during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Stacy Bengs
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Before stepping on the ice for his first NHL appearance since Jan. 25, 2018, Ken Appleby had some words of encouragement for Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.
“I mostly just felt bad for him,” the AHL call-up said after stopping six of eight shots in the third period of the Islanders’ 5-0 loss to the Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Monday night. “I just told him, ‘It’s not on you.’ He’s been carrying a heavy workload lately and playing unreal, too, considering the circumstances.”
Sorokin (29 saves) made his sixth straight start and career-high 11th straight appearance. Semyon Varlamov (injured reserve, lower body) last played on Jan. 2 and did not accompany the team on this four-game road trip.
Coach Lane Lambert almost certainly will turn right back to Sorokin against the Central Division-leading Jets on Tuesday night.
“He had seen enough rubber,” Lambert said of pulling Sorokin.
It marked the fourth NHL appearance for Appleby, 28, including three with the Devils in 2017-18.
“It was exciting,” he said. “Any time you get in to the NHL is exciting. I would have liked to have gone in there and tried to make the saves when they were needed to give the guys a chance to come back. Hope to be ready again whenever they need me.”
Isles files
Defenseman Alexander Romanov’s mouth was bloodied when he took a high stick from Kirill Kaprizov in the third period. Romanov was hit in the mouth and lost multiple teeth during warm-ups before Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Predators, though he did play in that one. Romanov didn’t return after being hit with the high stick and likely will have to wear a full face shield for his next few games . . . Defenseman Samuel Bolduc and right wing Oliver Wahlstrom were the 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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