The New York Islanders faced a tough night against the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of their first-round series, especially goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who was pulled midway through the game after conceding three goals on just 14 shots.
After being pulled, Sorokin was spotted in the tunnel, fully geared up, leaning against the ramp wall, clearly feeling the weight of the disappointing performance.
Despite being a solid goalie for the Islanders throughout the season, Sorokin's struggles in this crucial playoff game seemed to affect him deeply, drawing sympathy from many.
Following the game, Sorokin's absence from his stall raised questions. Head coach Patrick Roy
addressed the situation.
Ilya Sorokin wasn't in the locker room following the #Isles loss tonight. Here's what Roy said when asked about Sorokin:
"We win and lose as a team. Sometimes, we make changes as a coach because we feel we just want to change the momentum of the game. I'll leave it at that."
While Roy's response may seem like deflecting, the absence of the team's franchise goaltender after a tough loss is concerning. With Sorokin's potential to become a high-paid player, his absence from the locker room should be addressed.
The Islanders find themselves in a tough spot, trailing the series three games to none. With their playoff hopes fading, Sorokin's absence only adds to the team's challenges, raising questions about their future in the postseason.