Zdeno Chara, Islanders Agree to 1-Year Contract for 2021-22 Season
Sep 18, 2021
BOSTON, MA - MAY 21: Washington Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) skates in warm up before Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on May 21, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Islanders, the team announced Saturday.
It will be the 24th season in the NHL for the 44-year-old, who began his career with the Islanders in the 1997-98 season.
Chara spent last season with the Washington Capitals, playing 55 games and totaling two goals and eight assists.
The seven-time All-Star has been one of the best defenders in the NHL during his career, winning the Norris Trophy in 2008-09 with the Boston Bruins. He played a key part in helping the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011, while the squad also reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and 2019.
At 6'9", 250 pounds, Chara is an imposing player who consistently helps his teams win.
He was plus-five with Washington last season and has finished in the red in plus/minus only once in the last 19 seasons. He is plus-354 in that span.
Chara's production and experience could boost the Islanders, who selected him in the third round of the 1996 draft.
New York was one game away from the Stanley Cup Final last season, losing to the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the semifinals. It was the second straight year the Islanders lost to the Lightning in the conference finals round.
The proven winner could be what it takes to help the Islanders get over the hump and bring home their first title since they won four straight from 1980 to 1983.
Why Other Teams Should Attempt to Sign the Islanders' Restricted Free Agents
Jul 2, 2021
New York Islanders' Anthony Beauvillier celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Penguins won 5-4. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
In theory, offer sheets provide possibly the NHL's most exciting mechanism for player movement.
Teams can propose contracts to any restricted free agent. If the player signs the offer sheet, then the incumbent franchise has seven days to either match the deal or concede the player, receiving a predetermined allotment of draft-pick compensation in return. It's an opportunity to poach quality players who are in their early to mid-20s.
In practice, offer sheets are a rarity. Since the salary-cap era began in 2005, only nine have been signed, including just one in the past seven offseasons.
The Edmonton Oilers' signing of Dustin Penner represents the only instance of a team acquiring a restricted free agent via offer sheet, although Dougie Hamilton's trade from the Boston Bruins to the Calgary Flames in 2015 happened because Bruins general manager Don Sweeney feared Hamilton would be tendered an offer sheet his team couldn't match.
Sweeney wanted to dictate the compensation he received, and the Flames gave up one first- and two second-round picks in the 2015 draft for the blueliner. Hamilton soon signed a six-year, $34.5 million deal with Calgary. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, had this been in the form of an offer sheet, Boston would have received first-, second- and third-round picks.
For a number of reasons, general managers have more or less decided that pursuing offer sheets is not worth the effort. As such, most offseason speculation of that nature serves as little more than pipe dreams for fans. Elias Pettersson will not be poached from the Vancouver Canucks no matter how many internet GMs try to will the idea into existence.
However, the New York Islanders have three prominent RFAs in Anthony Beauvillier, Adam Pelech and Ilya Sorokin. When analyzing the state of the roster and its financial outlook, the conditions are there for other NHL teams to attempt to buck the trend and make a serious run at signing one of those players away from Long Island.
Evaluating the Islanders' RFAs
Each of the Islanders' three big RFAs is enticing.
Beauvillier, 24, is perhaps one of the most underappreciated forwards in the NHL. In many ways, he's a poster child for the Islanders' model of modest efficiency. His counting numbers aren't flashy, with just 33 goals and 34 assists in 115 games over the past two regular seasons. It's still solid production, but his greater value lies in his ability to drive play.
The left wing is well-rounded offensively. He's strong at creating zone entries, forechecking and cycling the puck. He's a shoot-first forward who can create trouble around the net front. Defensively, he's reliable and responsible, a requirement to survive in a Barry Trotz system. Because of that ability to drive play, Evolving-Hockey ranks his total output in the 87th percentile of all NHLers over the past three seasons.
Pelech, 26, partnered with Ryan Pulock to create one of the most effective, cooperative defensive duos in the NHL this past season. Pelech is not the offensively inclined player of the duo, but he makes up for it with elite defensive play. He's tremendous at suppressing zone entries and keeps shooting opportunities to the outside. Per Evolving-Hockey, his defensive impact ranks in the 97th percentile.
Sorokin came into this season as one of the top young goaltenders in the world, having proved himself in the KHL. He lived up to the billing in his rookie season, posting a .919 save percentage over 29 combined regular-season and playoff games. More specifically, per Evolving-Hockey, he saved 2.57 goals above expected. It's not a large sample size, and goaltending is always volatile, but he has the skill and brief NHL resume to justify a chance at a starting role.
Why the Islanders are Vulnerable
There's at least some merit to the argument that offer sheets are underutilized in the NHL. When not being used in the entry draft, picks are often spent on short-term acquisitions. In comparison, the ability to land a quality young player on a long-term contract is well worth the cost of business.
Still, there are reasons why making one happen isn't easy. For one, the targeted player has to be willing to sign with a different organization. From there, the contract has to be low enough to justify the investment for the team offering the contract yet substantial enough that the original team opts to not match it. That's a tough needle to thread. Chances are that the same reasons other teams would pursue a restricted free agent are going to be why the team that owns his rights will make keeping him a priority.
The Islanders undoubtedly want to keep Beauvillier, Pelech and Sorokin. However, creative bookkeeping will be necessary to make that happen. Per CapFriendly, The Islanders are entering the offseason with roughly $11 million in available cap space with which to sign those three, let alone any other players. Lou Lamoriello is an experienced general manager who isn't going to panic. If given ample time, he will find a way to make that space available, even if it comes at a cost.
Time is the relevant variable here that other teams can exploit. Lamoriello may attempt to make a number of things happen expediently. Among his options are attempting to move Jordan Eberle ($5.5 million average annual value, three years remaining) and Nick Leddy ($5.5 million AAV, one year remaining) in trades, as well as pay another team to take on the contracts of Andrew Ladd ($5.5 million AAV, two years remaining) and Leo Komarov ($3 million AAV, one year remaining).
Otherwise, the Islanders will enter free agency July 28 vulnerable to exploitation. Upon the signing of a theoretical offer sheet, the Islanders would have only seven days to match that and, really, only that week to put themselves in a position to comfortably do so.
Teams are allowed to go over the salary cap during the offseason, so the Islanders could always lock up their RFAs first and then work to clear space afterward. But they would be relinquishing leverage as their problem became more vivid, and the price of moving other contracts would go up tremendously.
What Offer Sheets Could Look Like
While the Islanders would probably love to lock up all three aforementioned RFAs long term, figuring out short-term solutions that limit cap hits and kick the can down the road may be more conducive to making the finances work.
Beauvillier is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, meaning Lamoriello could try to convince him to settle for a one- or a two-year deal. Per Evolving-Hockey's estimates, such a deal would fall in the range of $3.5 million-$3.75 million per year.
But what if another team offered him a long-term deal? Per Friedman, a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $5.75 million per year would require compensation of first- and third-round picks. To compare, that's similar to what Toronto gave up to acquire winger Nick Foligno as a rental this season (one first- and two fourth-rounders). To lock up a multifaceted top-six winger in the prime of his career? That's a small price to pay. Many teams should at least take a cursory look at the idea, but the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues are two that stick out as needing help at left wing.
Sorokin is also set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. The Athletic's Arthur Staple recently speculated that a one-year deal at $3 million would be "palatable." Any other NHL team in need of a young goaltender should be lusting after a player of his caliber.
Would Sorokin sign for five years at $5 million per season to be the starter elsewhere rather than backing up Semyon Varlamov on a short-term deal? A team like the Detroit Red Wings or the San Jose Sharks shouldn't give up what will likely be a lottery pick (plus a third-rounder) in 2022, but there are others for whom it would be well worth it. As pure conjecture, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild come to mind.
Pelech is the least susceptible to an offer sheet in all likelihood. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2022 and is integral to the Islanders' identity. New York is most likely prepared to extend him for the long term. Staple used the contract of Minnesota's Jonas Brodin, who was signed for seven years at $6 million annually in September 2020, as a starting point. Re-signing Pelech is the Islanders' biggest priority this summer.
Memories of 2010 offer a small window of opportunity. The Sharks submitted an offer sheet for Niklas Hjalmarsson. Although the Chicago Blackhawks matched the offer, the long-term deal they were forced into left no remaining cap space to re-sign fellow RFA Antti Niemi, who headed to San Jose.
If the Islanders are forced to act early on Beauvillier and Sorokin and negotiations with Pelech drag on late into the offseason, is there a chance for another team to swoop in? Again, if an opportunity presents itself, the draft picks are worth it for a team expecting to be competitive next season.
Offer sheets should be attempted far more frequently than they are, but the rarity isn't without reason. The Islanders have built a competitive team and a culture that players want to remain part of. Lamoriello is as experienced a GM as there is in professional sports, and he will be well prepared to untangle this problem.
The smart bet is that, just like in most offseasons, offer sheets will be at best sparse and more likely nonexistent. But when it comes to the Islanders' RFAs, there are the conditions in place that lend credibility to the belief that there's an opportunity for other teams, at least in the case of Beauvillier and Sorokin, to poach good players at worthwhile prices.
Lightning vs. Islanders Features 3rd-Most Expensive NHL Semifinal Tickets Since 2011
Jun 17, 2021
New York Islanders right wing Leo Komarov (47) shoots on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Having a New York hockey team playing deep into the postseason is good news for ticket sales.
Per Ticket IQ, tickets for Islanders' home games against the Tampa Bay Lightning have the third-highest average sale price of any NHL playoff semifinal series since 2011:
Only the New York Rangers in 2014 ($954) and 2015 ($1,207) have had higher prices for tickets on the secondary market in the past 10 years.
The Islanders and Lightning are playing in the semifinals for the second straight year. Tampa Bay defeated New York in six games last year en route to winning the Stanley Cup, but that series was held without fans in the stands at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
After splitting the first two games of their semifinal series at Amalie Arena, the Isles will host the Lightning in Game 3 at the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday night.
The Islanders increased their home attendance to 12,000 fans for their home games in the second round against the Boston Bruins. The Coliseum has a maximum capacity of 13,917 for NHL games.
New York is looking to make its first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final since the 1983-84 season.
Islanders Win Game 1 vs. Lightning, Take Home-Ice Advantage in Stanley Cup Semifinals
Jun 13, 2021
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders is congratulated by Anthony Beauvillier #18 after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Stanley Cup Semifinals during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 13, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes struggled to solve Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The New York Islanders cracked the equation Sunday, however.
Led by goals from Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock, the Islanders stole home-ice advantage from the Lightning, winning 2-1 on the road in Game 1 of their semifinal series.
Mat Barzal gets the scoring going in the #StanleyCup Semifinals!
Brayden Point made things very interesting in the final minute, scoring on the power play with just 53 seconds remaining and the Lightning playing six skaters to four after pulling Vasilevskiy. But the Islanders held from there, taking a crucial Game 1 win.
The teams were even in shots (31) and nearly even in hits (41-40 in favor of the Islanders), though New York had a major advantage in faceoffs won (28-18) and blocked shots (13-8). The Islanders also protected the puck extremely well, with only one giveaway.
The 9 rush chances weren't the most in a playoff game this year. That honor goes to....the New York Islanders who had 13 in a game. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the only thing boring about this team is that other teams can't score on them.
Sunday's result shouldn't be a surprise. The Islanders may have come into this series as the underdogs—as they should against the defending champs—but they were also underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins and won each series in six games.
They also thrive in close games. The Islanders went 3-1 in overtime games in the first two rounds, so Tampa's late push didn't rattle them.
One thing is for certain—the Islanders aren't about to get comfortable against a dangerous team like the Lightning.
"We just gotta regroup here and have to even get better," Pulock said after the game on the NBC broadcast. "They're gonna make a push here in Game 2."
And no, the Lightning aren't exactly panicking:
#Bolts down in a series for the first time this postseason. Stamkos said the Islanders played really well, but Lightning will make some adjustments and come back hungrier in Game 2. "I don't think this group necessarily gets down or gets frustrated." #NYIvsTBL
This series should be fun. The pesky Islanders who keep defying expectations vs. the defending champions who always seem to rise to the challenge. Game 2 will be Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Kyle Palmieri, Islanders Beat Bruins 4-1 in Game 4 to Even Series
Jun 6, 2021
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nassau Coliseum on June 05, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
The New York Islanders and Boston Bruins are tied at two games apiece in the Stanley Cup playoffs following New York's 4-1 win Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
David Krejci drew first blood for the Bruins with 3:57 gone in the first period. The Bruins' lead didn't last long as Kyle Palmieri tied things up at the 6:38 mark, notching his fifth goal of the postseason.
Compared to Saturday's earlier game (a 6-4 victory for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Carolina Hurricanes), the back-and-forth affair was a welcome antidote for hockey fans who enjoy a defensive struggle.
Notable Performers
Tuukka Rask, G, Bruins: 30 saves, .938 save percentage
Semyon Varlamov, G, Islanders: 28 saves, .955 save percentage
Mat Barzal, C, Islanders: one goal, one assist, three shots, one takeaway
Islanders Not Ready to Say Goodbye to Nassau Coliseum
From the outset, the Islanders showed the kind of urgency you'd expect from a team that knew it was basically in a must-win situation.
The first period set the tone with two fights that resulted in a pair of five-minute penalties for each team. This was a physical game in which the Islanders fed off the home crowd in Uniondale.
Well if this is the last game at Nassau Coliseum, it's a wild one.
While fans are returning to arenas and stadiums in larger numbers, it has still been tough to replicate the kind of atmosphere fans have come to expect in big games with venues not at capacity.
The energy inside Nassau Coliseum was readily apparent to those watching the action.
The performance of Semyon Varlamov can't go unnoticed, either. He was a steady presence between the pipes, and it was a strong response after he let in Brad Marchand's overtime winner in Game 3.
Pastrnak Left to Rue Early Miss
After the scoreless first period, it looked like the outcome would be decided by which goaltender was a victim of bad luck or a critical mistake late in the game. It was a case of the former for Tuukka Rask.
In general, Rask played well. He kept the game deadlocked in the opening frame with a pad save on Anthony Beauvillier. In the second period, he got low to stop a wrist shot from Josh Bailey.
Anthony Beauvillier is going to be having nightmares about Tuukka Rask after this series. That's gotta be 4 or 5 golden chances Rask has robbed him on.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 5, 2021
You would've bet the house on Pastrnak scoring with the net that wide open.
Boston ultimately scored first anyway, and it's impossible to say with any certainty whether the Bruins win if he scores there. But those kind of missed opportunities can take on a larger significance in the playoffs.
What's Next?
The puck drops for Game 5 on Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Boston's TD Garden.
David Pastrnak Hat Trick Leads Bruins to Game 1 Win over Islanders in NHL Playoffs
May 30, 2021
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) and defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) react as Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal with center Patrice Bergeron (37) in the second period of Game 1 during an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The Boston Bruins came back from an early 1-0 deficit to win Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, 5-2, on Wednesday.
David Pastrnak's hat trick led the way as the Bruins star picked up his second career three-goal game in the playoffs.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 30, 2021
Equally as important is the fact that Boston retains home-ice advantage with the first two games played at TD Garden. The Islanders struck first with forward Anthony Beauvillier netting his fourth goal in New York's past five games thanks to a deflection on the power play 11:48 into play.
That took all the energy out of TD Garden just after the midway point of the first period .
Goals from Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy helped restore that as the Bruins stormed back to take the series opener.
Boston goalie Tuukka Rask recovered to make 20 saves on 22 shots in the win.
Notable Performers
David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins: 3 Goals, 7 Shots, 16:24 TOI
David Krejci, C, Boston Bruins: 3 Assists, 4 Shots, 2 Blocked Shots
Anthony Beauvillier, LW, New York Islanders: 1 Goal, 4 Hits, -3 Plus/Minus
Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders: 4 Goals Allowed, 35 Saves
Boston Pasta Party
TD Garden opened its doors to 17,000 fans Saturday, marking the largest live audience at an NHL game this season. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy wanted to take in as many of their faces as he could, and Pastrnak happened to provide the perfect opportunity.
As hats flew to the ice from across the arena to celebrate the winger's third goal of the night, Cassidy couldn't help but spend a minute or two soaking it all in. Icona Pop's "I Love It" blared throughout the arena, followed by Kernkraft 400's "Zombie Nation" with the building growing louder and louder.
"I was trying to enjoy the moment," Cassidy told reporters after the win. "Good moment to look around, see a lot of joy."
He could do that because of Pastrnak's efforts.
David Pastrnak's hat trick is the 25th in Bruins playoff history. He becomes the fifth Bruin to have multiple hat tricks in the playoffs:
Phil Esposito: 4 Johnny Bucyk: 3 Cam Neely: 3 David Krejci: 2 David Pastrnak: 2
The winger was at his absolute peak Saturday, scoring in just about every way a coach would want to see from a playmaker. Pastrnak's first came on the power play in the first period, tying the game at 1-1 after New York goalie Ilya Sorokin gave up a massive rebound to the winger in the left faceoff circle. Pastrnak had the presence of mind to take a few extra seconds to wait for the net to open up before depositing the equalizer.
His second goal was an absolute blast off a one-timer from the same exact spot, making him look more like a pitcher switching between a fastball and changeup to fool Sorokin once again.
Finally, with 4:10 remaining in regulation, Pastrnak charged down the ice in transition, waited for a screen and wristed another right past Sorokin's pads for the dagger.
After a disastrous first few shifts allowed the Islanders to momentarily grab the momentum in Boston, the Bruins came right back and made sure they didn't waste their home crowd.
Once it became clear that wouldn't be the case, Cassidy had to enjoy the moment. His team had earned it.
Sorokin Screens Cause Trouble for Isles
The Islanders' biggest problem Saturday wasn't keeping up with Boston—though the Bruins did edge New York 40-22 in shots on goal. The Isles actually proved they can skate with the B's and made the game physical enough that open space proved a rarity.
Instead, it was Sorokin's ability to track the puck from the crease that caused the most trouble. And it's one that may have him on a short leash in Game 2.
While the goalie made a number of big-time saves in the loss, his rebound control and ability to find the puck made him a massive liability on the back end, especially with so many Bruins shots hitting the net.
Three of the four goals Sorokin allowed came on screened looks with Boston posting up right in front of the crease. Pastrnak's one-timer proved the exception—even if it wasn't much of a consolation.
The problem is clearly twofold for the Isles, and there isn't much time to clean it up.
First, the Islanders need to do a much better job of keeping Boston from screening Sorokin. Whether that's moving bodies out of the way or keeping a defenseman further back toward the crease, New York needs to make a concerted effort to ensure its netminder can see the puck better.
Beyond that, Sorokin can't keep giving up rebounds with so many Boston players camping around the net. That's going to mean sucking in more shots—though hopefully for the Isles he won't have to face another onslaught of 40 or more pucks on net in Game 2.
If New York doesn't prove capable of making things easier for Sorokin, head coach Barry Trotz might not have a choice but to turn to backup Semyon Varlamov to see if he can take any better care of the puck.
What's Next?
Game 2 between the Islanders and Bruins is set for Monday at TD Garden. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Barry Trotz Must Stick with Ilya Sorokin After Islanders Rout Penguins in Game 4
May 23, 2021
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the third period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Islanders won 4-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
UNIONDALE, New York — From start to finish Saturday at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Ilya Sorokin showed an abundance of one thing: poise.
The 25-year-old rookie goaltender got the start in Game 4 of the New York Islanders' first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins after Semyon Varlamov was in the net for a losing effort in Game 3. Sorokin had been fantastic in the first game in Pittsburgh, saving 39 of the 42 shots he faced.
Sorokin made a quick save 61 seconds into the game, stopping Kasperi Kapanen. It wasn't a particularly acrobatic save, but it was a puck he needed to stop.
The Islanders were down 2-1 in the series coming into Saturday, and their one win—an overtime victory in Game 1—wasn't convincing. But their efforts were exceptionally convincing Saturday, as they used their frustrating defensive system, physicality and good old-fashioned peskiness to grind down the Penguins and defeat them 4-1 to even the series.
Sorokin played a big role but wasn't the star. As is typical with the Islanders, the system was the standout. His workload wasn't exceptionally heavy in a 29-save performance. Most of those shots were not dangerous, Pittsburgh only recorded seven high-danger scoring chances, per Natural Stat Trick, but he made it clear that he deserves to keep the net.
"Ilya, when called upon, I thought he looked really sharp in net," coach Barry Trotz said. "It was a shame that we gave up that goal at the end, but I thought he looked solid. I thought our team played the right way and we were able to get a victory."
It was the 25-year-old's first start in front of a raucous Coliseum crowd. He took it in stride, but that shouldn't be surprising considering he backstopped CSKA Moscow to a KHL championship in 2019.
"He's been under the spotlight a lot and in those big moments," Trotz said. "I think it's just his demeanor. He enjoys those moments, just like Varly does, but he's not a guy who is a pure rookie coming into the NHL or in high-pressure situations. He's had a lot of them, just in different leagues. I think he just feels very comfortable."
The comfort was obvious, and Sorokin said he drew on his experience. He used the same mindset he has employed during other championship games.
"Every playoff game, you have a high level of concentration and focus, and you have to be ready 100 percent," Sorokin said. "It doesn't matter if it's in juniors, the KHL or the NHL."
If anything, the crowd helped him. Fans make a difference, adding to the intensity level of the game and fueling the adrenaline.
"Finally, I saw supporters during a game," he said. "I was very excited because we played for fans. When you hear how loud it is, you feel the energy. I just enjoy the game and enjoy the moment."
Sorkin allowed the team to play with a lead, which was something the Islanders haven't been doing during in this series. He didn't allow a goal until 17:25 of the third period, but the Islanders had already wrapped up the game.
When he did have work in the crease, he handled it with ease. Any good goalie makes the difficult saves look easy, and with Sorokin it was no different.
"I think the big characteristic of Ilya, and even shooting him on practice, is his quickness," forward Jordan Eberle said. "I mean, laterally, side to side, some of the saves he makes are pretty amazing. It's impressive to see him, obviously, in his first playoff run. I know he's been through it in Russia. But to have poise and just his confidence back there and just his calmness, he makes big saves for us, and he's done it all year."
Sorokin conducted his postgame Zoom press conference mostly in English. He had the help of a translator for questions asked by media members, but his answers were in English. There are veteran athletes who still get nervous during press conferences, and it's impressive for a player new to the league and relatively new to the United States to talk in another language in such a public format.
It speaks to his ability to stay calm and composed.
The Islanders' two wins in the series have come with Sorokin in the net. These were the games wherein the team played its brand of hockey. Trotz likes to say that it's impossible for him to make a bad choice when he has two good goaltenders, but the right choice is clearly Sorokin.
If he has a bad game or two, then maybe they could use go back to Varlamov. Like Trotz said, there is no wrong decision. But throughout a seven-game series, it's best to ride the hot hand. The two of them are clearly close, and Varlamov is a veteran who doesn't require preferential treatment. He rushed out to the ice to hug Sorokin following the win, clearly happy for his teammate and for his team as well.
Sorokin should be in the net for Game 5 at PPG Paints Arena. It's his net to lose.
Islanders Clinch Postseason Berth; Latest 2021 NHL Playoff Picture
May 2, 2021
New York Islanders' Andy Greene (4) celebrates with teammates Noah Dobson (8) and Mathew Barzal (13) after scoring against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 9, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Expectations were high for the Isles coming into the 2020-21 season after they advanced to the Eastern Conference Final last year before falling short against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. This is their third straight postseason trip.
New York got off to a sluggish start, lowlighted by a five-game losing streak in late January.
"It's playoff mentality right now and I'm not sure we have our playoff mentality yet," head coach Barry Trotz told reporters during the skid. "And it's pissing me off."
The Islanders eventually found their footing, and a nine-game winning streak that started in late February put the club on cruise control toward the postseason.
Mathew Barzal has led the team in scoring with 41 points (15 goals and 26 assists), while the goaltending tandem of Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin has been terrific with a combined .931 save percentage.
The 2021 playoffs will be unique for a couple of different reasons, most notably the divisional format and the fact that teams haven't played opponents outside their divisions all year.
Instead of a conference-based bracket with teams seeded No. 1 through 8, each division will seed No. 1 through 4 and play two rounds to crown a divisional champion, which will advance to the NHL version of the Final Four.
Once that happens, the remaining teams will play non-divisional opponents for the first time. It's a unique challenge since there's been little reason to scout the other teams this season aside from potentially looking into players before the trade deadline.
The Islanders represent a tough matchup with their strong defensive system under Trotz, and they could have enough offensive firepower to make a serious run toward their first championship since 1983.
Sabres vs. Islanders Postponed Because of NHL's COVID-19 Protocols
Feb 2, 2021
New York Islanders goalkeeper Thomas Greiss heads back to the net after a stoppage in play during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
The NHL announced that Tuesday night's scheduled game between the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, has been postponed.
The league noted that since severe weather on the East Coast forced the Sabres to travel Tuesday rather than Monday, there wouldn't have been enough time to go through proper COVID-19 testing and contact-tracing protocols.
On the heels of the postponement, the Sabres and Isles remain scheduled to play Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Although the NHL didn't provide it as a reason for the postponement of Tuesday's contest, the Sabres are coming off a two-game set against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and Sunday.
The Devils are in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak, with 10 players on the COVID-19 Protocol Related Absence list. Per theAssociated Press, Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod and Pavel Zacha all tested positive for COVID-19 following the series against Buffalo.
As a result, the NHL has postponed the Devils' next three games, including Tuesday's scheduled clash with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Each contest has taken on added significance this season, as there are only 56 games on the schedule and each is against a divisional foe.
Both the Sabres and Islanders are outside the top four in the East Division, meaning they would miss the playoffs if they started today. With 10 points, the Sabres are one point out of fourth, while the Isles are three points out of fourth with eight.
Tuesday marks the first postponed game of the season for both Buffalo and New York, but they should be able to get back at it Thursday, COVID-19 test results permitting.
Anders Lee, Islanders Cruise to Victory over Sean Couturier, Flyers in Game 1
Aug 24, 2020
New York Islanders' Semyon Varlamov in action during a preseason NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The New York Islanders continued their dominance of the Philadelphia Flyers with a 4-0 victory in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series Monday.
After sweeping all three regular-season matchups against their Metropolitan Division rivals, the Islanders wasted no time seizing a lead in their playoff showdown at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.
Andy Greene, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Anders Lee and Devon Toews (empty net) scored the goals for the victors, while goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped all 29 shots he faced.
Notable Performers
Semyon Varlamov, G, NYI: 29 saves
Andy Greene, D, NYI: 1 goal
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, NYI: 1 goal
Anders Lee, LW, NYI: 1 goal
Devon Toews, D, NYI: 1 goal
Andy Greene Sets the Tone, Pageau and Lee Put It Away
To say the Islanders were dominant in the first period would be quite the understatement.
After all, they enjoyed a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal, controlled play with the forecheck, created the better opportunities in front of the net and had the only power play of the opening 20 minutes.
It is a testament to Philadelphia goaltender Carter Hart, who had two shutouts in the first-round win over the Montreal Canadiens, that New York was up just 1-0 heading into the second.
That one came from Greene, who fired a slap shot from distance to open the scoring and then made an excellent defensive play to save a goal and preserve the lead in the final minute of the first period by sticking his leg out and blocking a point-blank shot.
It was the exact veteran leadership and versatility the Islanders were surely looking for when they acquired Greene from the New Jersey Devils in a February trade and put the team in a position where one more goal would qualify as breathing room.
Pageau gave New York just that in the third period when he found himself all alone in front of the net with multiple Flyers battling for the puck behind the goal. There was nothing Hart could do despite his impressive start to the game, and the Islanders all but put it away when Lee scored in transition off a beautiful pass from Mathew Barzal.
Semyon Varlamov Continues His Recent Brilliance
The game seemingly switched in between the first and second periods, as Philadelphia started creating almost every offensive chance after being thoroughly outplayed out of the gates.
The Flyers started winning races to pucks, creating offensive chances with the forecheck and building momentum with consistent opportunities near the goal. However, Varlamov met every challenge when New York could have easily lost control of the game during the onslaught.
Instead, the Islanders preserved the lead heading into the final period thanks largely to their goaltender.
It was more of the same for Varlamov, who didn't allow a single goal while eliminating the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of the Islanders' first-round series. He also allowed just one goal in Game 3 and posted a save percentage of .920 or better in all but one of the five games against Washington.
Facing an offense with playmakers such as Travis Konecny, Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux right after fending off the Capitals was no easy task, but Varlamov stood on his head in another brilliant performance.
