McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Nov. 25 – Ilya Sorokin vs. Joonas Korpisalo

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Fri. Nov. 25, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

I think the Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin is the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top netminder. And Joonas Korpisalo is still trying to find the consistency necessary to solidify his standing as a go-to NHL goaltender for the Blue Jackets.

What to watch for:

Keep track of how many times each goaltender ends up on their backside. If history gives any indication, I bet Sorokin manages to stay balanced and upright twice as often as Korpisalo. Tonight’s matchup features two diametrically opposite goaltenders when it comes to technicality. Korpisalo loves to be aggressive with his depth. Sorokin prefers to take a measured approach. The result is that Korpisalo is much more active in and around the crease.

Sorokin is coming off a massive 49-save shutout against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. And his .934 save percentage is a true indicator of his play. The Islanders wouldn’t be a Stanley Cup playoff team thus far without Sorokin’s wizardry in the cage.

I keep waiting for Korpisalo to adapt his game, but he continues to chase the play. He’s a great athlete that’s capable of stealing games when he finds a proper rhythm. But until he starts to play closer to home, and rotates to his posts more efficiently, I’m not sure he’ll be able to crack the .900 save percentage threshold.

What fantasy owners should do:

Sorokin is a must-start for any fantasy owner. Korpisalo should only be deployed if a fantasy team is in need of saves.

Bottom line for Ilya Sorokin:

Columbus will be active around the crease. Tidy rebound control is a must against the Blue Jackets.

Bottom line for Joonas Korpisalo:

It’s not an easy environment on a beat up team. But if there’s ever a time to shine, it’s now. Go steal a game.