Sorokin has won two straight games for the Islanders and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a sluggish start to the season, including a five-game winless skid, Sorokin seems to be righting the ship, collecting at least a point in seven straight games (5-0-2) while posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Islanders are slight -114 home favourites against the Penguins, who came up short in their last game before the Christmas break, losing 5-4 to the Ottawa Senators in overtime.

Gauthier missed the Islanders' previous game Thursday due to an upper-body injury but appears ready to go on Saturday vs. Carolina. The 26-year-old is off to the most productive start of his five-year career, with two goals, five points, 19 SOG and. four PIMs in 14 games played prior to his injury.

Michael Pezzetta will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Heineman to make his NHL debut on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. Heineman was the 43rd overall pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft and has four points (1G / 3A) in seven games with the Laval Rocket this season.

On the back end of a back-to-back, the Islanders will likely turn to Varlamov after a 3-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers last night courtesy of a strong performance from Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin has been active between the pipes for the Islanders this season, starting three of the last seven games. That said, his 2.73 GAA and .919 SV% are inflated by a strong start, as he has allowed three or more goals in each of his last eight contests (4-3-1), posting a .897 SV%. The Islanders are slight +102 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that has only scored two combined goals in their last two games (1-1-0).

Gauthier left the Islanders' game Tuesday after just 4:33 TOI due to an upper-body injury and will be out Wednesday vs. Washington but is staying with the team on their road trip. The 26-year-old right winger is on pace to set career highs in almost all statistical categories as he started the season with two goals, three assists, 19 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 14 games prior to his injury.

Matt Martin has not played since November 15th and will remain on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury. In 14 games this season, Martin had two points (1G / 1A) and 31 hits while averaging 8:27 time-on-ice., the lowest total of his career since averaging 7:59 in the 2017-18 season.

On the back end of a back-to-back, the Islanders will likely turn to Varlamov after a 3-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers last night courtesy of a strong performance from Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin has been active between the pipes for the Islanders this season, starting three of the last seven games. That said, his 2.73 GAA and .919 SV% are inflated by a strong start, as he has allowed three or more goals in each of his last eight contests (4-3-1), posting a .897 SV%. The Islanders are slight +102 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that has only scored two combined goals in their last two games (1-1-0).

Gauthier suffered an undisclosed injury in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers and exited the game after playing only 4:33 time-on-ice. Gauthier has been a regular in the Islanders lineup for the last month and has played predominantly on a line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom, tallying five points (2G / 3A) in 14 games.

Pheonix Copley went down with an undisclosed injury last week, prompting Rittich's call-up from the Ontario Reign (AHL). The 31-year-old veteran netminder is In his 9th NHL season and has a 79-51-21 career record with a .904 SV% and a 2.87 GAA. In 16 games with Ontario (7-6-3), Rittich a 2.63 GAA and .901 SV%. He has a favourable matchup in his Kings debut as they are -252 road favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has scored only four goals combined over their last three games (1-2-0).

With the return of Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina will return to a standard 12/6 lineup and Tony DeAngelo will be the odd man out and a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a solid return to Carolina after signing a one-year contract in the offseason, with two goals, nine points, 33 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus in 20 games played this season.

Pheonix Copley went down with an undisclosed injury last week, prompting Rittich's call-up from the Ontario Reign (AHL). The 31-year-old veteran netminder is In his 9th NHL season and has a 79-51-21 career record with a .904 SV% and a 2.87 GAA. In 16 games with Ontario (7-6-3), Rittich a 2.63 GAA and .901 SV%. He has a favourable matchup in his Kings debut as they are -252 road favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has scored only four goals combined over their last three games (1-2-0).

Duclair was a healthy scratch in the Sharks' 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday but will return to the lineup Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Duclair has played predominantly with Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund, scoring 11 points (6G / 5A) in 27 games this season.

After alternating starts with Semyon Varlamov over the last week, Sorokin will start for the third time in the last five games for the Islanders. Sorokin has struggled to string together quality starts this season, never recording more than two in a row. After allowing four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins in his last outing, he will be hard-pressed to regain his footing against the high-flying Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Islanders are +121 home underdogs against an Oilers team that has lost two straight but previously won eight games in a row.

After alternating starts with Semyon Varlamov over the last week, Sorokin will likely start for the third time in the last five games for the Islanders. Sorokin has struggled to string together quality starts this season, never recording more than two in a row. After allowing four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins in his last outing, he will be hard-pressed to regain his footing against the high-flying Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Islanders are +121 home underdogs against an Oilers team that has lost two straight but previously won eight games in a row.

Pheonix Copley went down in practice with an undisclosed injury earlier Friday so David Rittich has been recalled from Ontario (AHL) on an emergency basis. The 31-year-old veteran netminder is In his 9th NHL season and has a 79-51-21 career record with a .904 SV% and a 2.87 GAA. He will likely backup Cam Talbot for the foreseeable future until Copley can return.

Mayfield has four assists, 17 PIMs, 19 SOG, and a -1 plus/minus in 20 games played this season but has been placed on the injured reserve and will not be available to return until December 19th against the Edmonton Oilers at the earliest. The 31-year-old bruising defenseman was replaced by Sebastian Aho (upper body) on Wednesday, who returned after an eight-game absence.