Marcus Hogberg has impressed everyone, Patrick Roy included, over a run of three starts in four games, over which he’s allowed just three total goals.
But the Islanders head coach would not go as far as to say that Hogberg has caused his thinking to change on a goalie rotation which had been tilted almost entirely in favor of Ilya Sorokin before Sorokin got sick in Utah last week, prompting Hogberg to get the net.
“No, no. It just brings the confidence that you have two very good goalies,” Roy said following Sunday’s practice, confirming that Sorokin would take the crease back on Monday against Columbus. “I won’t lie, at the beginning, I was a little bit nervous to put [Hogberg] in but when he played his first game against Pittsburgh, I thought he played really well. He was good against Utah and he was very good against Ottawa and last night, he was good again. I guess that’s how you build trust and confidence for any coach.”
So, no. There is not a goalie controversy on Long Island.
But with Semyon Varlamov’s return date from a lower-body injury still unknown — Varlamov has taken shots on his own, but Roy said Sunday there are no updates on his status — Hogberg appears to have at least emerged as a backup in whom the Islanders can trust.
Given the immense workload Sorokin has shouldered since Varlamov got hurt at the end of November, that is no small deal.
“I’m feeling comfortable out there,” Hogberg told The Post. “Having fun, find a way to stay focused because these kinds of games [like Saturday’s win over San Jose], when I don’t get a lot of shots, you have to work a little bit mentally. Just focus when the puck is coming against me, I’m trying to stay focused and be ready when they’re coming in there.”
Roy was impressed with the physicality of Marc Gatcomb, who has 11 hits in his first two NHL games and is expected to remain in the lineup on Monday.
“It’s his ticket for the big club. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Roy said. “If he plays like this, it’s gonna make our decisions extremely difficult and that’s what he controls. How he goes out here, how he finishes checks, how he plays in his D-zone, how he does offensively. I think it’s the best way for him to make an impression and I think he does right now.”
Alexander Romanov missed Sunday’s practice with maintenance, but is expected to play Monday, per Roy.