Czarokin may ascend the throne ahead of schedule.
Isles coach Barry Trotz is comfortable splitting the net in the playoffs and has done so with success in New York. But Ilya Sorokin is playing a dominant game and doing it super calmly to boot, taking the Isles from 1-2 to 3-2 in the series.
Ilya the Impaler? Ilya the Impenetrable? Ilya the Impossible Stopper? Ilya the Unicorn? Whatever goofy czar title Sorokin picks is cool with me. Just shut up and take my money the next 10 years.
Sorokin stole the show tonight in Game 5, giving up just one goal a 20-4 shooting advantage in the 2nd period and a flurry of overtime chances. The Islanders had legs in the third and OT but were still outshot 50-28. Thanks to Sorokin (and Jarry, tough one bud), it did not matter. The rookie is putting up insane numbers this series.
The Numbers:
ILYA THE IGLOO RAIDER, First of His Name
| Game | Saves | Shots | W/L | Minutes |
| GAME 1 | 39 | 42 | W 4-3 (OT) | 76:30 |
| GAME 4 | 29 | 30 | W 4-1 | 60:00 |
| GAME 5 | 48 | 50 | W 3-2 (2OT) | 80:51 |
| NHL Playoff Totals: | 116 | 122 (.951 SV%) | 3-0 | 217 (1.66 GAA) |
Let’s wildly compare him to Patrick Roy, the best rookie goalie to do it in the Yoffs:
180 min., 2.00 GAA, .923 SV%, 3-0.
Roy gave up 6 goals on 78 shots through 3. Ilya has given up 6 on 122. 122!!!!
YOOOOO. That’s sick.
Icewater in His Veins
Ilya looked cool, composed, and mindblowingly nonchalant throughout.
One on occasion, he was so casual it was terrifying. Tanev (I think) deflected a point shot from about the hashmarks. Instead of dropping to the butterfly, Sororkin crouched hit right leg like 3 inches to make an awkward yet apparently intentional save.
Beaten earlier on a slapshot over his blocker by Rust, Sorokin olayed a high blocker blast by Kris Letang during a 1 minute + zone time for the Penguins.
Shout out to Pierre for the updates on Leddy’s ice time in 10 second intervals that shift.
The Finish
Sorokin kept the Isles in it until Tristan Jarry’s brainfart opened the door for Josh Bailey:
Also, Oliver Wahlstrom had a nasty collision in the corner with Mike Matheson in the 2nd. His neck took some harsh whiplash after slapping against the dasher. Hope to see him back in the series.
Final: Isles 3, Pens 2. Isles up 3-2 in the series which a chance to clinch at the Coli in Game 6.
LFGI(lya)
The Morning Skate 