Niko Mikkola will be out of the lineup due to an undisclosed injury, creating space for Boqvist to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Boqvist has been limited to only 13 games this season, averaging 12:03 time-on-ice and scoring four points (2G / 2A).

On the final day before the holiday break, the Islanders will roll with Sorokin between the pipes for an 11th straight game. Sorokin saved 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.82 GAA and .903 SV% in 24 games this season (10-10-4), tarnished by his .856 SV% in his last four games (2-2-0). The Islanders enter Monday's contest as -147 home favorites against a reeling Buffalo Sabres squad amid a 13-game losing skid (0-10-3).

Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said Drouin is making improvements but still has no timeline for his return.

Duclair has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in mid-October but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old Duclair was signed in the offseason to add an offensive punch to a typically low-scoring Islanders club and was off to a solid start before his injury, with three points (2G / 1A) in five games.

Boqvist began the 2024-25 season with high hopes, lining up on the top powerplay unit for Florida, an experiment that quickly dissipated. The 24-year-old defenseman has been in and out of the lineup for the Panthers, limited to 13 games this season, scoring four points (2G / 2A).

Duclair has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in mid-October but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old Duclair was signed in the offseason to add an offensive punch to a typically low-scoring Islanders club and was off to a solid start, with three points (2G / 1A) in five games.

Marcus Hodberg has served as the backup to Ilya Sorokin the last several games, a trend that will continue until the new year as Varlamov will not be eligible to return until, at earliest, January 5th against the Boston Bruins. The 36-year-old Varlamov owns a 3-4-3 record and an .889 SV% in ten games this season.

Horvat did not play on Sunday but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Horvat is averaging 20:13 time-on-ice, scoring 22 points (8G / 14A) in 31 games this season.

Martin has been a regular in the lineup lately but will be a healthy scratch for only the second time since November 7th. The 35-year-old Martin is averaging 8:10 time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A) and 56 hits in 20 games.

Horvat did not play on Sunday but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Horvat is averaging 20:13 time-on-ice, scoring 22 points (8G / 14A) in 31 games this season.

With Semyon Varlamov (lower body) still away from the team, the Islanders will roll with Sorokin between the pipes for a ninth consecutive game. Sorokin struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 22 shots (.818 SV%) in a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.71 GAA and .906 SV% in 22 games (9-9-4) and has battled adversity lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last six (3-3-0), posting an ugly .878 SV%. The Islanders enter Tuesday's contest as +193 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes club that is 5-5-0 in their last 10.