The Sergei Naumovs Effect: Inside The Islanders’ Goalie Turnaround

After a goalie coach change, Sergei Naumovs helped spark Ilya Sorokin’s return to Vezina form, transforming the Islanders’ season.

EAST MEADOW, NY — The New York Islanders are sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division with the biggest reason has been the play of starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin.

Sorokin, the team’s No. 1 netminder, got off to a very tough start, going 2-4-1 with a 3.75 GAA and an .868 SV%.

After a 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 21, a game in which Sorokin stopped 23 of 26, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche made a change at the goaltender coach position. He relieved Piero Greco, Sorokin’s goalie coach since he broke into the NHL, elevating Sergei Naumovs from Bridgeport.

Naumovs served as Sorokin’s goalie coach for two seasons with the KHL’s CSKA Moscow, so the two were familiar with one another.