McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 14 – Ilya Sorokin vs. Joonas Korpisalo

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Mar. 14, 2023:

Why I like this matchup:

Sorokin has won six of his last eight starts for the resurgent Islanders. And Korpisalo is undefeated for the Kings since arriving at the trade deadline. Both goalies will be critical to each team’s Stanley Cup aspirations.

What to watch for:

It’s a fun matchup because in some ways, Sorokin and Korpisalo play similarly. They’re both great skaters. Each netminder can be explosive when called upon. But there are differences.

Sorokin is one of the NHL’s best at playing between the goal posts. He’s under control and efficient. And while Korpisalo has done a better job of playing that restrained style this season, he does have a wild streak about him. There are still times when the Kings netminder will chase the play and stray from the crease.

The Islanders have relied heavily on Sorokin this season and the Russian goalie has not disappointed. His .926 save percentage is third best in the NHL among goalies that have played at least 20 games. Yet Sorokin only has 23 wins in 47 starts. It shows hard hard it’s been for the Islanders to score this year.

Korpisalo’s .913 save percentage is noteworthy considering that his last two NHL seasons saw him fall below the 90 percent save threshold. But after undergoing offseason hip surgery, Korpisalo came back for the 2022-23 season with renewed vigor. He’s moving with an efficiency not seen in quite some time. And Korpisalo is finally able to utilize his outstanding athleticism once again. He’s won both outings in a Kings jersey.

What fantasy owners should do:

With two of the best defensive teams in the NHL face off, fantasy owners should be comfortable starting both goalies.

Bottom line for Ilya Sorokin:

He’s allowed three or less goals in his past seven outings. That’s the consistency necessary to keep the Islanders in the mix for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Bottom line for Joonas Korpisalo:

Since coming to Los Angeles, Korpisalo has alternated starts with Pheonix Copley. It’s time to claim the crease.