Goalie Marcus Hogberg might get Islanders roster spot with Ilya Sorokin out after back surgery
Marcus Hogberg of the Islanders guards the net during the third day of training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center on East Meadow on Sept. 21. Credit: Rick Kopstein
PHILADELPHIA — No, Patrick Roy said, he does not know whether franchise goalie Ilya Sorokin will be able to play in the preseason as he recovers from offseason back surgery.
Perhaps the Islanders coach just did not want to address the subject with a definitive timeline. Still, the reality is plans must be made to select a backup to Semyon Varlamov in case Sorokin is unavailable to start the regular season on Oct. 10.
If so, ex-Senator Marcus Hogberg, who spent the last three seasons playing in his native Sweden, has seemingly skated to the fore. He made 24 saves as he logged 59:47 with the Islanders ceding an empty-net goal in Thursday night’s 2-0 loss to the Flyers at Wells Fargo center, marking Hogberg’s second start in three preseason games.
“Our goalie played really well,” coach Patrick Roy said. “He was very patient in front of his net. He was reading plays very well. They had a couple of good looks. He’s a big man so when he’s moving well and he reads the play well, he can cover a lot of space.”
The 6-5, 234-pound Hogberg became the first Islanders goalie to play a full game in the preseason. Semyon Varlamov is likely to get the whole game when the Islanders face the Devils on Friday night at UBS Arena.
Hogberg, 29, also stopped 15 of 17 shots in 29:22 in Sunday night’s 4-2 road win over the Devils in the Islanders’ preseason opener. He signed a two-year, $1.55 million deal with the Islanders in May to return to the smaller North American rinks after going 9-17-9 with a 3.39 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in parts of three seasons with the Senators.
“I felt comfortable out there,” Hogberg said. “It helps a lot to get some practices and work on things that I need to adjust. Maybe a good step in the right direction.”
Hogberg, who could do little on defenseman Erik Johnson’s rebound goal on a puck off the back wall at 4:36 of the third period, was also the beneficiary of good defensive structure in front of him.
“I saw a lot of pucks,” Hogberg said. “When I had a rebound, they were clearing the puck for me.”
Hogberg likely has the advantage over former Devil and Ranger Keith Kinkaid, in training camp on a professional tryout offer, 6-9 prospect Henrik Tikkanen and Thursday’s backup, Jakub Skarek, to start the season with the Islanders if Sorokin is not ready.
“Obviously there’s a bit of a bump in the road for Ilya,” Roy said. “Whenever he’s going to be ready, he’ll be ready.”
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Scott Mayfield logged 18:44 as he dressed for his third straight preseason game. It was his first time paired with expected regular-season partner Mike Reilly (18:46) . . . Defenseman Calle Odelius, a second-round pick in 2022, logged a strong 17:02 and broke up a second-period two-on-one for the Flyers. “Odelius had a great game,” Roy said. “He’s a good puck mover. He’s got some speed.”
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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