Ilya Sorokin, the New York Islanders’ goaltender, became part of NHL history on April 6 when he allowed Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th career goal. Despite conceding the milestone goal, Sorokin made 28 saves and helped the Islanders secure a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals, the team led by Ovechkin. The match took place at UBS Arena, marking one of the most memorable games of the NHL season.
Following the game, Sorokin showed respect and generosity by gifting Ovechkin his goalie stick at no cost, a token meant for the Capitals captain’s future Russian museum. This gesture underscored the sportsmanship shared between the two Russian players on the ice that night.
Reactions and Camaraderie Between Ovechkin and Sorokin
Ovechkin acknowledged the significance of scoring against a fellow Russian, highlighting the special nature of the moment.
“Russian score against Russian [to] set the record. It’s pretty cool,”
Ovechkin remarked, also praising Sorokin’s character by adding,
“He’s such a great kid, and my kids love him.”
Sorokin was similarly celebrated during Ovechkin’s mid-game ceremony when the star player gave a shout-out. Ovechkin said,
“Thank you, Ilya Sorokin, to let me score 895 – love you, brother.”
To that, Sorokin responded with humor and grace, “It’s okay, anytime.”
During a late June podcast appearance on Slippery Ice, Sorokin was asked about rumors suggesting there might have been a prearranged agreement allowing Ovechkin’s historic goal. Featuring former Capitals player Andrei Nikolishin and other commentators, the podcast delved into the speculation surrounding the event.
Sorokin Addresses Speculation About a Prearranged Goal
In the interview, Sorokin firmly denied any collusion or arrangement. He emphasized the competitiveness of the match and stressed the Islanders’ victory.
“I think we had the most attended match of the season. The result was the same. I will repeat to everyone: we won that match. No one cares, but it is important for my confidence,”
he explained.
He dismissed rumors about an agreement:
“For God’s sake. I can’t hear them. Who would negotiate in the NHL?! The last time I spoke to Sasha [Ovechkin’s nickname] was probably when we played the first game at [Capital One Arena]. After the game: ‘Hi-hi, bye-bye’, there was still a long way to go to break the record, there was no opportunity.”
When asked if he ever considered asking fellow Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov to take his place during the game due to the pressure, Sorokin laughed,
“There were such thoughts (laughs). But, at the same time, high pressure, but it is a challenge, it was interesting to accept it. It turned out the way it turned out. The match left more positive impressions than negative ones.”
He confirmed that Varlamov, who was recovering at the time, said,
“Of course I would have played.”
Comparing Historic Moments in NHL Goaltending
Sorokin also recalled the reaction of Kirk McLean, the goalie who conceded Wayne Gretzky’s record goal, saying,
“I really don’t want to end up in the crossword puzzle.”
Sorokin responded to that with a smile,
“What’s wrong with them? If I see something like that one day, I’ll smile.”
These comparisons highlighted how goaltenders process monumental moments in hockey history uniquely.
The Details of Ovechkin’s Record-Breaking Goal
Discussing the goal itself, Sorokin revealed that he never saw the puck clearly due to being screened by several players in front of him. Ovechkin scored on a power play with a powerful one-timer after receiving a cross-ice pass from teammate Tom Wilson as he entered the offensive zone.
“There were three players in front of me, and that blocked my vision a lot,”
Sorokin said.
“I didn’t see the puck. I only saw it when it flew out of the net, and he dove down the blue line (to celebrate). That’s all I saw.”
Sorokin admitted he might have misjudged his position slightly.
“I probably over-corrected a bit. He usually shoots to the left, and I took a slightly incorrect position.”
The Impact of the Mid-Game Ceremony on the Players and Fans
Following the goal, the NHL paused to celebrate Ovechkin’s achievement with a ceremony held on the ice at UBS Arena. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Wayne Gretzky, the previous all-time goal leader, addressed the crowd. Sorokin noted the difficulty of maintaining focus during the extended break in play, which lasted around 25 minutes.
“Yes, there was such a moment (of frustration),”
Sorokin recalled.
“I read somewhere that initially there was a limit on celebration, 8 or 14 minutes. When it all happened, there was a strange feeling. The first five minutes — dissatisfaction, and then it was forgotten. Then we stand for 10 minutes, 20.. In the end, it all lasted about 25 minutes. The score was 2-1, there was still half a match to play. Well, I went to warm up.”
Ovechkin’s Humble Request and Sorokin’s Generosity
Before restarting the game, Ovechkin approached Sorokin unexpectedly. Although Sorokin expected some playful teasing given Ovechkin’s reputation for trash talk with opposing goaltenders, he was surprised when the Capitals captain asked for his goalie stick after the game.
“Ovechkin came up to me, I thought, he’s going to laugh now, but he asked me to give him his stick after the game,”
Sorokin said.
“I didn’t ask him for anything; I realized it was useless.”
After the final buzzer, Sorokin handed over his stick and promised to give Ovechkin his catching glove once the season ended. Sorokin did ask only one thing in return: to have some pucks signed for his teammates. The two also posed together for a photo with Gretzky.
Reflecting on the exchange, Sorokin said with a smile,
“I try to treat everything with irony. After the game, when we shook hands, he told me: ‘Well, Sorok, thank you.’”
In the Islanders’ locker room, teammates also joined in the lightheartedness. Sorokin recalled,
“Matt Martin said, ‘I knew you’d give in to him,’”
adding with a smile, “You can’t get around that.”
Handling the Pressure Leading Up to the Historic Goal
Sorokin was aware of the media buzz and fan predictions pointing to him as the goalie who might concede Ovechkin’s milestone goal, especially with the match taking place on Long Island.
“It all started a couple of weeks ago, when bets and predictions began that maybe it would happen right here, right at that time,”
Sorokin said.
He described the atmosphere during the warm-up, noticing the remarkable presence of Capitals fans at UBS Arena wearing their team’s jerseys, a rare sight for an away game.
“There was a little more excitement when we went out for the pre-game warm-up. Usually, there are about 50 people standing in the opponent’s jerseys, but here they were all wearing Washington jerseys to the brim.”
Sorokin admitted that the goal was the first time Ovechkin had ever scored on him, which made the moment feel unusual.
“Everyone has ambitions, my task is not to let a goal in,”
he said.
“And, of course, when it was scored, and when you are told a month in advance that you will most likely be the goalie who lets in a record goal… You are a little taken aback.”
Sorokin’s Outlook on the Long-Term Effect of the Historic Goal
Asked whether being part of such a significant milestone might psychologically affect his career, Sorokin was confident it would not. “Absolutely not,” he said with a laugh.
“At least, I want to believe that it won’t affect me in any way and won’t leave an indelible impression on my psychology.”
By embracing the moment with humor and professionalism, Ilya Sorokin not only contributed to a historic NHL occasion but also demonstrated the respect and camaraderie shared among players competing at the highest level. His positive demeanor and candid responses shed light on the human side of participating in record-breaking sports achievements and the challenges of staying focused under intense scrutiny.