Islanders Face Tough Goaltending Dilemma for Back-to-Back Games

Ilya Sorokin's strong play creates difficult choice for coach as team battles for playoff spot

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:56am

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The New York Islanders are facing a challenging goaltending decision as they prepare for a critical back-to-back weekend series against the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets. Ilya Sorokin has been the team's rock in net this season, but backup David Rittich has struggled of late, raising questions about how the Islanders will manage their goaltenders over the two-game stretch.

Why it matters

The Islanders are in a tight playoff race, and these two games against divisional opponents could have major implications for their postseason hopes. How the team handles the goaltending situation could be a key factor in determining the outcomes of these crucial matchups.

The details

Sorokin has been stellar for the Islanders this season, leading the league in shutouts and ranking second in goals saved above expected. However, the team has not needed him to play on back-to-back days this year, raising questions about whether he can handle the workload. Rittich, the backup, has struggled mightily since the new year, posting an .861 save percentage over his last 10 starts. His most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Flames, was his best in months, but it's unclear if that is enough to earn him the start against either the Canadiens or Blue Jackets.

  • The Islanders play the Canadiens on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Islanders play the Blue Jackets on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Ilya Sorokin

The Islanders' starting goaltender, who has been their best player this season with a league-leading six shutouts and strong underlying metrics.

David Rittich

The Islanders' backup goaltender, who has struggled mightily since the new year but is coming off a strong outing against the Flames.

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What they’re saying

“Conventional wisdom would dictate that Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich split the two games, but given how Sorokin has handled playing on consecutive days, that may not be a guarantee.”

— Ethan Sears, Author

What’s next

The Islanders' coaching staff will need to decide whether to start Sorokin in both games, split the starts between Sorokin and Rittich, or give Rittich the nod in one of the two games. This decision could have a significant impact on the team's playoff chances.

The takeaway

The Islanders' goaltending situation is a delicate balance, with Sorokin's stellar play creating a tough decision for the coaching staff. How they handle this critical back-to-back could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs for the Islanders.