Ilya Sorokin started the Islanders’ preseason opener against the Rangers on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, a little more than nine months after the goalie’s rocky NHL debut in the building.
But the tough circumstances surrounding that start seems like much longer ago after Sorokin, a five-time KHL All-Star and playoff MVP, played like a seasoned veteran through much of his very successful rookie campaign.
The 26-year-old again is expected to share the net this season with fellow Russian Semyon Varlamov, who is dealing with soreness and has not skated since training camp opened on Thursday.