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 being 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.
Since that change, Sorokin has returned to Vezina-caliber form.
The last game before the break was Sorokin’s 30th start since the change, going 18-10-2 over that span with a 2.20 GAA and a .923 SV%, adding six shutouts.
Sorokin is 20-13-3, with a 2.44 GAA and a .920 SV%, with six shutouts.
Rittich only made one start before the Greco decision, stopping 31 of 33 in a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, the Islanders’ first win of the season after an 0-3-0 start.
However, since the change, Rittich is 11-8-3 through 22 starts with a 2.59 GAA and an .877 SV%, with two shutouts.
I spoke to both goaltenders about the goalie coach transition and what they’ve learned from Sergei:
Sorokin On Naumovs
Stefen Rosner: What has it been like working with Sergey again?
Ilya Sorokin: “Great practices and a lot of video work, visual work. He’s a pretty good guy, and it’s fun to work with him again.”
Rosner: You worked with him previously in Moscow. What’s it been like rekindling that relationship?
Sorokin: “Very good. Two years in Moscow — good time. Great season this year. So I’m happy to work with him again.”
Q: What have you been working on?
Sorokin: “We do a lot of work on skating and small details. It’s routine work every day — doing the right things and working step by step. We’ll see in the games.”
Rittich On Naumovs
Stefen Rosner: What has it been like working with Sergei, and how has he helped you so far?
David Rittich: “He’s been great. I’d say a couple of things are different from before, and just getting to know Sergey a little more helps as well. He has a different view than I do, or Rocky does, or Sorokin does, or Piero had, so it’s nice to get a different opinion on some things. He’s not pressuring me or pushing me to do different stuff — he’s just trying to explain some things that could help, and then we work through it and see what fits me.”
Rosner: You mentioned working on small details. How important are those when it comes to making saves?
Rittich: “That’s hockey, right? It’s all about details. If you can fix a little detail, it can help you big time. It can be the difference between not making a save and making a save — position-wise, hand-wise, how you hold your hands, how reactive you are. That all comes from posture and those little details.”
Rosner: How important has video work been with Sergei? Are you doing more of it now?
Rittich: “I’m not really a big video guy, but we do some video. Obviously, he shows me things — like something he showed me on the ice the other day, I did it in a game, and it worked.”
I’m very interested in understanding how the Islanders need to go about incorporating some NCAA players at their season end. Is it more complicated than signing them to a ELC. Are there any rules or roster spots that need to be opened a certain way? I don’t think so but would like to know for sure. I think from a forward perspective they are looking to add Danny Nelson and a Cole Eiserman the minute theirNCAA seasons end. Let’s be honest there are many candidates that could be waved and sent to Bridgeport. These guys would be a lot like adding Lafontiane and Flatey, not comparing them but they have potential.
3 On 3 is fun in the NHL regular season, it should be extended slightly to avoid shootouts. However to have 3 on 3 in OT in these Olympic Games are terrible! There should be at least that one extra normal period.