Cholowski has registered just two assists in his last 12 games and his return to the AHL suggests that Jonathan Ericsson and Alex Biega will play on Thursday. Cholowski had 12 assists in 25 games with Grand Rapids a season ago.
Gauthier was called up on Monday and will play in his third NHL game of the season. The 22-year-old power-forward has scored 10 goals with two assists (12 points) in 22 AHL games this season and will skate on the fourth line with Jordan Martinook and Brock McGinn in Edmonton.
Dobson has been a healthy scratch for the last five games but will replace Nick Leddy, who is out with a lower-body injury. Dobson will skate with Johnny Boychuk and is expected to see some power-play time on a unit with Mathew Barzal and co.
Varlamov allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Islanders win over the Golden Knights last Thursday. Varlamov has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .923 SV% in his last six starts and two relief appearances. The Lightning has won seven of their 13 home games (7-5-1) while scoring 4.31 goals per game. Tampa Bay hasn't been as good as they were in 2018 but they're still a tough matchup for Varlamov and the low-scoring Islanders.
Hogberg appeared in two games with Ottawa last week with Craig Anderson injured. With Anderson back on IR, Hogberg comes back from Belleville, where he is 7-6-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% this season.
Varlamov stopped all 30 shots that he faced after replacing Thomas Greiss (undisclosed) early in Saturday's win over the Blue Jackets. Varlamov finished the month of November at 3-1-2 with a 2.47 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout. Goal-support has been a problem for Islanders' netminders recently but he has a great matchup vs. a Red Wings team that has lost nine consecutive games (0-7-2) while scoring just 1.78 goals per game.
With Craig Anderson on IR and Anders Nilsson starting last night, Hogberg is expected to make his season debut on Saturday. Hogberg was 6-6-0 with a 3.21 GAA and .892 SV% in 14 AHL games at the time of his call-up. Hogberg has gone 0-2-1 with a 4.09 GAA and .884 SV% in his first four career NHL appearances.
With Craig Anderson on IR and Anders Nilsson starting last night, Hogberg is expected to make his season debut on Saturday. Hogberg was 6-6-0 with a 3.21 GAA and .892 SV% in 14 AHL games at the time of his call-up. Hogberg has gone 0-2-1 with a 4.09 GAA and .884 SV% in his first four career NHL appearances.
Reilly played in three straight games, picking up two assists, but will be replaced by Gustav Olofsson on the blueline on Saturday.
Varlamov allowed two goals on 26 shots in the islanders overtime loss in San Jose on Saturday. The 31-year-old is 3-0-1 with a 1.72 GAA, .940 SV% and one shutout in four road starts this season and has a solid matchup in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Kings are 7-5-1 while averaging 3.08 games at the STAPLES Center this season.
Hogberg is 6-6-0 with a 3.21 GAA and .892 SV% in 14 AHL games this season and is coming up to backup Anders Nilsson on Wednesday. Craig Anderson is not on the ice for the morning skate so the 25-year-old comes up to serve as backup for at least one game.
Andreoff appeared in six games while he was with the Flyers and tallied one assist and fired eight shots on net. His return to the AHL opens up a roster spot for Scott Laughton (finger) to be activated from LTIR. Andreoff has seven points (3G / 4A) in 11 AHL games.
Martin has missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury but will play vs. the Penguins. Martin has just two goals, one assist and a plus-2 rating in seven games this season.
Varlamov allowed four goals on 28 shots in Colorado's win over the Maple Leafs last Wednesday. Thomas Greiss started Saturday but the goalie rotation will continue tonight in Pittsburgh. The 31-year-old has gone 2-0 while allowing just one goal on 60 shots (.983 SV%) in his two road starts. He allowed four goals on 39 shots in a 4-3 OT loss in his first start vs. the Penguins.
Schneider still has three years left on a contract that carries a $6.0M AAV cap-hit so it's not surprising that he cleared waivers. Schneider's game has completely fallen apart in recent years, as he's gone 6-27-7 with league worsts in GAA (3.55) and SV% (.885) in his last 44 appearances. Unless he goes to Binghamton and completely reinvents himself, this could be the last we see of Cory Schneider.
Varlamov allowed four goals on 28 shots in Colorado's win over the Maple Leafs last Wednesday. Thomas Greiss started Saturday but the goalie rotation will continue tonight in Pittsburgh. The 31-year-old has gone 2-0 while allowing just one goal on 60 shots (.983 SV%) in his two road starts. He allowed four goals on 39 shots in a 4-3 OT loss in his first start vs. the Penguins.
With Trevor Moore going on IR with a shoulder injury, Engvall gets his first career NHL call-up. The 2014 seventh-round pick has been surprising this season, tying for the Marlies team-lead with 16 points (7G / 9A) in 15 games.
