Varlamov stopped 26 of 28 shots in the Islanders 2-1 loss to the Capitals on Friday. Thomas Greiss had an outstanding outing vs. the Jets on Sunday, but it looks like Varlamov will go tonight vs. the Oilers. Everything is pointing towards this being a 50/50 split all season long. He faces an Edmonton team that is 2-0-0 while averaging 4.50 goals for per game so far.

Schneider finds himself in familiar territory; injured. Schneider allowed two goals on 21 shots before leaving the Devils season opener with an injury. Mackenzie Blackwood came in to replace Schneider in what turned out to be a shootout loss. Blackwood is set up to start Saturday but the Devils may have to recall a backup if Schneider can’t travel.

Varlamov went 20-19-9 with a 2.87 GAA and .909 SV% in 49 games with Colorado last season. This summer the Avalanche let him walk in free agency, where he signed to take over for Robin Lehner in their timeshare. He draws a tough assignment for his Islanders debut with the Capitals in town.

Schneider will be looking for a bounce-back campaign after going 6-13-4 with a 3.06 GAA and .903 SV%. Injuries have crushed Schneider’s once-promising career but he comes into 2019-20 fully healthy and with an improved squad in front of him. In his first start of the season, he will face a Jets team on the tail-end of a back-to-back on home-ice—where he was 4-3-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .920 SV% last year.

Cizikas has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the late stages of the preseason but it won’t keep him out of Friday’s season opener. Cizikas will fill a familiar fourth-line role with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck on his wings.

Cizikas is dealing with a lower-body injury and head coach Barry Trotz said it’s too early to determine if he will be ready for the season opener. Trotz is hopeful he’ll have his fourth-line centre available, but it doesn’t sound like the injury is going to linger too deep into October.

Reilly had three goals and eight assists (11 points) in 57 games for Montreal last year. Reilly shuffled in and out of the Montreal lineup all season but ranked third among defensemen in PP TOI/gm (1:25) when he did play. He will likely fill the exact same role in 2020.

Hogberg spent most of the 2018-19 season with the Belleville Senators (AHL) where he was named the team’s most valuable player after going 21-17-4 with a 2.32 GAA and .917 SV% in 39 games. During his four games with Ottawa, the 24-year-old was 0-2-1 with a 4.09 GAA and .884 SV%. He will likely start the 2019-20 season with Belleville.

Duclair was acquired from the Blue Jackets as a part of the Matt Duchene trade and drastically improved his numbers in Ottawa. Duclair saw over 1:30 TOI more per game with the Senators and scored eight goals with six assists (14 points) in 21 games. With a lack of talent in Ottawa heading into 2019-20, Duclair should continue to play a middle-6 role for the Senators.

Nelson is coming off of a career-year, having scored 25 goals and 28 assists (53 points) in 82 games. Nelson has been extremely durable, missing just two games over the last five seasons and figures to continue as the Islanders’ No.2 centre heading into the 2019-20 campaign.

Schneider allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Devils loss to St. Louis last Saturday. Schneider finished March at 2-4-2 with a 2.72 GAA and .913 SV% and will make his 23rd start of the season on Thursday. The 33-year-old is 2-9-1 with a 3.73 GAA and .889 SV% on the road this year and draws a tough assignment in Carolina.

Varlamov allowed four goals on 36 shots in Colorado’s loss to Anaheim on March 15th. Philipp Grubauer started the last eight games, including last night, but they’ll come back to Varlamov vs. the Oilers. Varlamov has stopped 41 of the 45 shots (.911 SV%) in two starts against Edmonton this season.