Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin dealing with nagging ‘issue’, out until after holiday break

One of the better netminders in the NHL is going to have some rest and recovery for the next few days.

On Monday, the New York Islanders announced that goaltender Ilya Sorokin has a small “nagging issue” and is going to let him rest through the holiday break. In response, the team has called up netminder Marcus Hogberg from its American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, on emergency conditions.

The Islanders stated that the team expects Sorokin to be back following the break, which spans from Dec. 24-26. Theoretically, the only game the Russian netminder would miss would be on Tuesday night, when the Isles welcome the New Jersey Devils to Long Island. The Islanders will be hosting the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Expect to see David Rittich get the call against the Devils, which would mark his second straight start. The 33-year-old gave up two goals on 32 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

Sorokin has started nine of the Islanders’ past 11 games, but dropped his last two appearances against the Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks last week. That came after he had won five consecutive starts. In 24 games this year, the 30-year-old has a record of 12-10-2, with a 2.55 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage and three shutouts.

Hogberg played in 15 games for the Isles last season, going 2-6-3 with a 3.38 GAA and a .878 SV%. In 57 career NHL appearances, most with the Ottawa Senators, the Swedish backstop is 11-23-12 with a 3.39 GAA and a .890 SV%. With Bridgeport this season, he has a record of 5-7-3, with a 3.08 GAA, a .881 SV% and one shutout.

The Islanders (19-13-4) sit third in the Metropolitan Division, five points back of the Carolina Hurricanes for first place.