Islanders free-fall largely comes down to one glaring issue

You devote time and energy trying to put a finger on how the Islanders can turn the ship around.Simon Holmstrom’s had a quiet few games.

Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov haven’t looked quite like themselves during this five-game losing streak.Anthony Duclair has yet to emerge from his season from hell. And then you stumble upon a stat that states the obvious, and realize it might just be that simple. Ilya Sorokin, in nine games from March 1-21: 8.88 goals saved above expected, per Evolving Hockey, with the Islanders 6-2-1 in those games, and losing the lone match started by Marcus Hogberg. Sorokin and Hogberg over the five games since, of which both have played in three: negative-6.03 goals saved above expected, with the Islanders winless. Right. It’s the goaltending, stupid. “A couple saves he could have made, would have been the difference in that game,” coach Patrick Roy said after Hogberg struggled on Sunday against the Hurricanes, letting in six of 30 shots as the Islanders’ comeback effort fell short. Hogberg, the backup since Semyon Varlamov got hurt on Black Friday, has struggled badly over three starts since returning from a hand injury earlier this month, with an .866 save percentage.

Though Varlamov, out with a lower-body injury, doesn’t appear likely to return this season, the backup situation is a secondary concern to the Islanders with nine games left. Sorokin, their workhorse, looks likely to start at least eight of the nine, with a back-to-back in New Jersey and Philadelphia on April 12-13 providing the only obvious window to sit him. And it’s Sorokin’s past two starts, in which he’s allowed four goals apiece and looked beatable, that are the biggest cause for concern.  Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.Please provide a valid email address.

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