Blade bummer as Sorokin's broken skate costs a goal
Islanders center Mathew Barzal, left, moves the puck against Wild center Connor Dewar, right, during the third period of an NHL game Monday in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Stacy Bengs
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — There’s no rule dictating that play should be stopped if a goalie loses a skate blade, as the Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin did at a crucial point in Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Jets at Canada Life Centre, unlike when a netminder’s mask comes off.
That’s because what happened on defenseman Neal Pionk’s second-period power-play goal as Sorokin was unable to move on the ice rarely, if ever happens. Sorokin said it had never happened to him and his teammates also said they couldn’t recall a similar play.
But now having seen it, coach Lane Lambert said maybe there should be a rule.
“If he’s unable to play, there would be certainly an argument for it,” Lambert said. “[Like] a loose mask. It’s just unfortunate.”
Breaking the norm
Typically, NHL teams do not hold a morning skate prior to the second game of a back-to-back set.
Yet there were the Islanders with nearly every player on the ice for an optional skate on Tuesday. Monday’s faceoff for an uninspired 5-0 loss in Minnesota was 5 p.m. So perhaps Monday’s earlier starting time could partially explain the heavily attended optional skate.
Mainly, though, it was a response to how poorly the Islanders played.
“Guys weren’t happy,” Mathew Barzal said. “That was a miserable game.”
Isles files
Defenseman Alexander Romanov donned a full face shield after being hit in the mouth with a puck on Saturday and a high stick Monday ... Left wing Pierre Engvall (upper body) is day to day ... Defenseman Samuel Bolduc remained a healthy scratch ... Lambert reported goalie Semyon Varlamov (injured reserve, lower body) has skated once on his own back in New York ... Lambert on defenseman Ryan Pulock (long-term injured reserve, lower body), who grew up in Dauphin, Manitoba: “He’s still out, so not coming along the way we want him to.” Pulock has been sidelined since Dec. 9.
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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