Despite Semyon Varlamov being activated from the injured reserve, Sorokin will likely start for the 10th straight game. Sorokin was tremendous in the Islanders' first game with new head coach Patrick Roy on Sunday, saving 40 of 42 shots (.952 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars. Sorokin has struggled to stay consistent this season and has allowed three or more goals in six of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a pedestrian .902 SV%. The Islanders are -149 home favourites against a Vegas Golden Knights club that played last night and lost 6-5 in overtime to the New Jersey Devils.
Varlamov has been sidelined most of the last month, battling a lower-body injury. Varlamov has been serviceable while backing up Ilya Sorokin this season, posting a 2.78 GAA and .918 SV% in 14 appearances (6-4-2). Before his injury, he was playing about one of every three games for the Islanders, but it is unclear if that trend will continue under their new bench boss, Patrick Roy.
Sorokin allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Islanders' overtime loss in Chicago on Friday. Sorokin has allowed three or more goals in six of his lat seven starts, going 1-5-1 with an .893 SV% during that stretch. Tonight, he'll face a Stars team that has won five of their last seven games while averaging 4.1 goals per game.
Reilly will be the odd-man out on Friday as Samuel Bolduc enters the lineup in his place. Reilly has three goals and six assists in 26 games this season.
Bolduc will feature on the third pair in Chicago on Friday as Mike Reilly will sit in his place. Bolduc has gone goal and two assists in 29 games this season.
Sorokin will start the eighth straight game on Friday and attempt to snap a three-game losing streak. Sorokin has only one win in his last six outings (1-5-0), allowing three or more goals five times, posting a pedestrian .900 SV%. That said, Sorokin is coming off a great performance in a losing effort, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Islanders have a favourable matchup as they are -250 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that played last night and was shut out 3-0 by the Buffalo Sabres
MacLean will likely suit up on the fourth line in his NHL debut on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The undrafted 24-year-old out of Livingston, New Jersey has spent the entirety of the last four seasons in the AHL, tallying 78 points (29G / 49A) in 193 games.
Sorokin will likely start the eighth straight game on Friday and attempt to snap a three-game losing streak. Sorokin has only one win in his last six outings (1-5-0), allowing three or more goals five times, posting a pedestrian .900 SV%. That said, Sorokin is coming off a great performance in a losing effort, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Islanders have a favourable matchup as they are -250 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that played last night and was shut out 3-0 by the Buffalo Sabres.
MacLean is one step closer to following in his 18-year NHL veteran father's footsteps as he has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) to the New York Islanders for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old undrafted free agent forward has enjoyed a solid AHL season with 19 points (6G/13A) in 36 games played prior to his call up.
Cizikas is eligible to return at any time after being placed on the Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury retroactive to January 9th on Wednesday but frees up an open roster spot on the Islanders in the meantime. The 32-year-old is producing at a similar rate to his previous seasons with 11 points (5G/6A) in 39 games played prior to his injury.
Sharks head coach David Quinn alluded to potential lineup changes ahead of Tuesday's game due to injury/illness, and it appears Duclair is the change he was referring to. Duclair has eight goals and eight assists in 40 games this season.
Oliver Wahlstrom will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday in Engvall's place. Engvall has five goals and nine assists in 41 games this season.
Wahlstrom will re-enter the lineup after being a healthy scratch for Monday's game in Minnesota. He has two goals and three assists in 21 games this season.
Sorokin will get the nod again on Tuesday after being pulled in Tuesday's loss to the Wild, marking the first time this season that the Islanders' starting netminder will start both ends of a back-to-back. Sorokin wasn't particularly poor on Monday, allowing three goals on 32 shots through two periods, as the move to pull him was likely done with more of an eye on tonight's game in Winnipeg as the Islanders were trailing the Wild by three goals heading into the third. Sorokin owns a 13-10-8 record on the season to go along with a .909 SV% and a 3.18 GAA.
Cizikas exited the Islanders' Tuesday night contest against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period with a lower-body injury after playing only 3:54 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Cizikas had been limited to only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 11 games while registering 25 hits.
Sorokin will continue his hold on the Islanders' crease on Thursday, marking appearances in eight straight games as Semyon Varlamov remains out of the lineup due to an injury. However, his increased workload has not resulted in improved play. In his last seven games (2-4-1), Sorokin has allowed four or more goals four times, posting a subpar .888 SV%. Sorokin and the Islanders are +115 home underdogs on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite defeating them 4-3 less than a month ago when Sorkin saved 37 of 40 shots (.925 SV%).
Samuel Bolduc is expected to come out of the lineup for the Islanders on Tuesday with Pelech expected to make his return. This will mark his first game since November 24th, a 20-game absence. Before his injury, Pelech had three points (0G / 3A), 28 blocks, and 15 hits in 16 games.