With Ryan Pulock (upper body) out of the lineup, Boqvist draw back in for the first time since January 26th. The 25-year-old Boqvist is averaging 12:30 time-on-ice and has one assist in 20 games this season.
Pulock played 22:12 time-on-ice and recorded an assist in the Islanders' previous game and was given the day off from practice on Tuesday for maintenance. That said, he will not play on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old defenseman has 24 points (3G / 21A) in 59 games this season. Adam Boqvist will enter the lineup as Pulock's replacement.
Duclair was a healthy scratch in the Islanders' final game before the Olympic break, following a game where he only played 3:04 time-on-ice. He made his return to the lineup in New York's previous game, but is clearly in poor standing with the team at the moment and will return to the sidelines. The 30-year-old Duclair has one assist and a -4 plus/minus in his last six games.
Pulock played 22:12 time-on-ice and recorded an assist in the Islanders' previous game and was given the day off from practice on Tuesday for maintenance. That said, he is hopeful to play on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old defenseman has 24 points (3G / 21A) in 59 games this season.
Sorokin is 2-0-0 since returning from the Olympic break and will look to continue his winning ways when he returns to the crease in the tail end of a back-to-back, on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Sorokin has battled some adversity in recent weeks, allowing three or more goals in eight of his last 12 games, but has still managed an impressive 9-3-0 record while posting a solid 2.51 GAA and .914 SV%.
Rittich had a rough performance in his return from the Olympic break, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%), but salvaged a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers. He will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks, looking to break free from a troubling five-game stretch (2-3-0) where he has an ugly 3.56 GAA and .847 SV%.
Drouin did not play in the Islanders' previous game due to a lower-body injury, but he was back at practice on Tuesday. The veteran forward is expected to be ready for Wednesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old Drouin is having a disappointing first season with the Islanders, scoring just 20 points (3G / 17A) through 53 games. He has been held off the scoresheet in 14 consecutive outings.
Sorokin was one of the hottest goalies in the NHL heading into the Olympic break and will hope to pick up where he left off when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 30-year-old Sorokin had a rough start to the season, with an ugly 3.75 GAA and .868 SV% in his first seven games (2-4-1), but quickly turned things around, going 18-9-1 with a stellar 2.10 GAA and .928 SV% the rest of the way. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that had points in four straight games heading into the break (3-0-1).
Sorokin was one of the hottest goalies in the NHL heading into the Olympic break and will hope to pick up where he left off when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 30-year-old Sorokin had a rough start to the season, with an ugly 3.75 GAA and .868 SV% in his first seven games (2-4-1), but quickly turned things around, going 18-9-1 with a stellar 2.10 GAA and .928 SV% the rest of the way. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that had points in four straight games heading into the break (3-0-1).
Horvat scored two goals in six games while representing Canada during their Silver Medal performance at the Olympics. The 30-year-old will hope to continue his career-best point production when he returns to New York's lineup on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. He has 40 points (24G / 16A) in 44 games this season.
Luff is an undrafted forward who has yet to make his impact at the NHL level. The 28-year-old has only 28 points (16G / 12A) in 111 career NHL games, but has been impressive in the AHL this season, scoring 39 points (14G / 25A) in 42 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Sorokin has been a cornerstone of the Islanders' reliability in recent weeks but has misstepped slightly lately, allowing four goals in his last two games (1-1-0). That said, the 30-year-old goalie still boasts a sensational 2.30 GAA and .927 SV% in 17 games (12-5-0) since the beginning of December. The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled offensively, being outscored 7-1 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Ritchie has not played in two weeks because of a lower-body injury, but he will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 21-year-old Ritchie has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 40 games this season. Anthony Duclair will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Ritchie's return.
