Islanders set lineup with Sorokin in goal for Panthers showdown
The New York Islanders held their morning practice at UBS Arena on Friday. The team prepared for their upcoming game against the Florida Panthers, scheduled for Saturday. Goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin is set to start between the posts for the match.
During Friday's session, the coaching staff arranged the forwards in four lines. Anders Lee, Bo Horvat, and Emil Heineman formed the first unit. The second line featured Cal Ritchie, Brayden Schenn, and Mathew Barzal. Ondrej Palat, JG Pageau, and Simon Holmstrom took their places on the third line, while Kyle MacLean, Casey Cizikas, and Marc Gatcomb rounded out the fourth.
On defence, the pairings saw Ryan Pulock and Matthew Schaefer as the top duo. Adam Pelech and Carson Soucy worked together on the second unit, with Scott Mayfield and Adam Boqvist forming the third pairing. Forwards Anthony Duclair and Max Shabanov skated as extras. Sorokin enters the game with strong season stats. In 46 appearances for the 2025-26 campaign, he has recorded 26 wins, 18 losses, and two overtime defeats. His goals-against average stands at 2.52, with a .913 save percentage and a league-best seven shutouts.
The Islanders will face the Panthers on Saturday with Sorokin in goal. His performance this season has been a key factor for the team, combining consistency with standout shutout numbers. The line combinations from Friday's practice are expected to carry over into the match.
