STARTING SOROKIN
Roy said Sorokin will start against Winnipeg on Monday, which will mark his third straight start of the season. Sorokin is 0-2-0 this season with an SV% of 0.860 and a GAA of 4.21 this season. Sorokin is 3-2-0 lifetime against the Jets, with a 0.932 SV%, 2.03 GAA and one shutout.
“We have two very good goalkeepers, very confident in both of them, but Ilya is one of the best in the game,” Roy said. “There’s no reason not to use it right now.”
DROUIN BACK, GATCOMB OUT
Drouin will return to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for a cross-check in Thursday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The winger will return with Horvat and Heineman, as the trio spent most of training camp on a line together.
Marc Gatcomb joined the lineup in Drouin’s absence on Saturday and will return on Monday. Duclair joined Horvat and Heineman on Saturday and should remain in the top six after a strong performance.
“Duclair deserves a raise,” Roy said. “He played very well, and now he will play with Barzal and Palmieri.”
A STEP FORWARD FOR SPECIAL TEAMS
Roy was pleased with the way the Islanders played on the power play and penalty kill Saturday against Washington.
The power play converted twice in three chances and Roy saw progress in structure and puck movement thanks to a special teams-focused training camp.
“I could see improvement every day,” Roy said. “Not just on our breakout and our triggers, but also on the way we move the puck. They start reading the options. I like the way [Assistant Coach] Ray Bennett breaks it down and explains it to them.
Roy noticed a similar level of commitment in his shorthanded units, which were 2-for-2 Saturday even though the Capitals’ third goal of the game came seconds after a minor penalty against Palmieri expired.
“With our penalty kill, I think we did a great job,” Roy said. “At the end of the day, our guys block shots. Simon [Holmstrom] We had a big block and got some great saves from Ilya at times. But there are some areas that we need to clean up and improve, that’s for sure.
