Between Ilya Sorokin and the Islanders defense, coach Patrick Roy was not going to point the finger at his goalie on Saturday.

Patrick Roy said his chat with the struggling Ilya Sorokin, who has a 4.18 goals-against average, was overdue.

On the morning of David Rittich’s first start in goal as an Islander, coach Patrick Roy was on the ice far longer than usual to work with Ilya Sorokin. This was the time, with Sorokin struggling through his first three starts, for Roy to bend his own rule about not getting involved with coaching the goaltenders.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin will be the first to tell you he isn't playing his best brand of hockey.

"It's very important mentally for me," Sorokin said after making 29 saves against Ottawa and stopping Shane Pinto's penalty shot

Sorokin turned aside 29 shots in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Senators. The 30-year-old netminder got beaten four times in the first two periods, but Sorokin slammed the door shut on Ottawa over the final 20 minutes as the Islanders mounted a comeback.

Patrick Roy breaks his usual routine, offering mental support to Ilya Sorokin following Thursday's morning skate.

Islanders head coach Patrick Roy gives Ilya Sorokin a public pep-talk amid his rough start to the 2025-26 season.