Oliver Wahlstrom will draw into the Islanders' lineup on Friday, sending Martin back to the press box as a healthy scratch. Matt Martin has only played two games this season, averaging 9:34 time-on-ice, but has been his usual bruting self, racking up five hits.
The Islanders have been very liberal in alternating goalies this season despite Sorokin seemingly returning to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been terrific to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting a dazzling 1.80 GAA and .932 SV%, but only has a 2-2-1 record to show for it. The Islanders rank worst in the league offensively, averaging only 2.2 goals per game, and enter the action on Friday as slight -104 road underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres.
Barzal played 22:46 time-on-ice in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, showing no signs of impairment, but is away from the team as he gets evaluated for an upper-body injury back in New York. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal has started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games. At the Islanders' morning skate on Friday, Jean-Gabriel Pageau was in Barzal's usual spot, flanking Bo Horvat.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Perunovich to re-enter the lineup for his third game of the season. The 26-year-old Perunovich registered zero points and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:48 time-on-ice in his two contests this season.
After playing two straight games, Engvall will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, replaced in the lineup by Matt Martin. The 28-year-old Engvall is averaging 10:27 time-on-ice and has four penalty minutes in two games this season.
Pierre Engvall will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Martin to re-enter the lineup for his second game of the season. Martin played 9:45 time-on-ice, recording two hits and a -1 plus/minus in his season debut last week.
Romanov is nearing a return but will likely miss a third straight game due to an upper-body injury on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Romanov has two points (0G / 2A), 19 blocks, and 14 hits in eight games this season.
Matthew Kessel will draw into the Blues' lineup on Tuesday, replacing Perunovich after playing two consecutive games. The 26-year-old Perunovich registered zero points and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:48 time-on-ice in his two contests this season.
Romanov did not play on Saturday and will miss a second game on Tuesday due to an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Romanov has two points (0G / 2A), 19 blocks, and 14 hits in eight games this season.
Boqvist will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres. Despite being a constant on a lethal Panthers' top powerplay unit, Boqvist has been limited to only two points (0G / 2A) in nine games this season while averaging a lowly 11:34 time-on-ice.
The Islanders have evenly split playing time between Semyon Varlamov and Sorokin through eight games this season and will continue the trend with an incoming back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday. Varlamov will start the tail end of the back-to-back on Wednesday and look to improve on a forgetful start to the 2024-25 season, posting an ugly 3.72 GAA and .854 SV% in four outings (1-2-1). The 36-year-old netminder is well off from his career average of 2.65 GAA and .916 SV%.
The Islanders have evenly split playing time between Semyon Varlamov and Sorokin through eight games this season and will continue the trend with an incoming back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sorokin will start on Tuesday and look to improve on stellar totals early in the 2024-25 season, boasting a 1.74 GAA and .936 SV% in four outings (2-1-1). The Islanders will face off against an Anaheim Ducks club that has only scored 18 goals through eight games this season, fewest in the NHL.
After being the Islanders' starting goaltender in the first two games of the season, Varlamov has served as the backup to Ilya Sorokin in four of the last five games. Varlamov is expected to return to the starter's crease on Saturday, the tail end of a back-to-back, and search for his second victory of the season. The 36-year-old Varlamov, in his 17th NHL season, has started the 2024-25 season with undesirable results, showcasing a pedestrian 3.27 GAA and .868 SV% in three games (1-1-1).
