Semyon Varlamov was supposed to be the Islanders' starter for the second straight game to open the season against the Rangers, but he was injured in warmups after getting hit below the mask and above his left shoulder around the collarbone by a shot from forward Cal Clutterbuck.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz did not have an update on Varlamov's condition after the game.
"Obviously, we put [Sorokin] in a real tough circumstance," Trotz said. "We did it to ourselves injuring 'Varly' in the warmup. To me, it's almost unacceptable. To me, it's like running your quarterback over in warmup. Players got to recognize that your goaltender is almost your most important player on your team. You've got to get him warmed up. Guys are not thinking.
"It wasn't fair to Ilya, it wasn't fair to Varly, the way the guys warmed him up. It started in warmup and it just sort of carried over through the whole game."
Sorokin was the Islanders' third-round pick (No. 78) in the 2014 NHL Draft. The 25-year-old rookie was 26-10-3 with nine shutouts, a 1.50 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 40 games with CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League last season.
Varlamov made 24 saves in a 4-0 win against the Rangers here Thursday. It was the first shutout by an Islanders goalie in a season opener since Glenn Resch against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 7, 1976.
Cory Schneider was Sorokin's backup. He is the third goalie on the Islanders roster.
