The 27th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Ritchie will return to Oshawa after registering one goal and no assists in seven games with the Avalanche. Ritchie will play an integral role in his final OHL season with the Generals and is likely to play on Team Canada at the upcoming World Juniors.
Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is nearing a return from injury, but stellar play from Rittich has made his absence tolerable. Rittich has allowed two combined goals in his last two outings (2-0-0), saving 40 of 42 shots in the process (.952 SV%). The Czech netminder became a trustworthy option between the pipes for the Kings last season and is trending in that direction again. The Kings enter action on Tuesday as +113 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Darcy Kuemper (lower body) is nearing a return from injury, but stellar play from Rittich has made his absence tolerable. Rittich has allowed two combined goals in his last two outings (2-0-0), saving 40 of 42 shots in the process (.952 SV%). The Czech netminder became a trustworthy option between the pipes for the Kings last season and is trending in that direction again. The Kings enter action on Tuesday as +113 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Highmore spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, where he had 31 points (9G / 22A) in 43 games. During a brief time in the NHL, he had two assists in seven games, giving him 29 points (12G / 17A) in 146 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Canucks, Blues and Senators. He has not played yet this season and will likely make his 2024-25 debut with the Belleville Senators in the AHL.
With Julie Gauthier cleared waivers on Monday, the Islanders have recalled Foudy from Bridgeport (AHL). The 24-year-old Foudy was the 18th overall pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He played 62 games with the Blue Jackets in the 2022-23 season, scoring 14 points (7G / 7A), but has primarily been an AHL player.
After clearing waivers on Monday afternoon, Gauthier will report to the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL, where he had 10 points (7G / 3A) in 17 games last season. The 27-year-old Gauthier was held off the scoresheet in his only game this season and has 41 points (19G / 22A) in 181 career NHL games.
Beckman has cleared waivers and will report to the Utica Comets of the AHL. The 23-year-old was the 75th overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and had two points (0G / 2A) in 11 games with Minnesota last season.
The Islanders will turn to Sorokin between the pipes on Tuesday evening against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite two tremendous outings, Patrick Roy and the Islanders' coaching staff continue to be very liberal in their goaltending rotation between Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. In two contests (1-0-1), Sorokin boasts a gaudy 1.48 GAA and .953 SV%. After an uncharacteristic 2023-24 campaign, he seems on track to return to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in the 2022-23 season.
Only five games into his tenure as a New York Islander, Duclair has suffered an undisclosed injury that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. The 30-year-old Duclair was signed in the offseason to add an offensive punch to a typically low-scoring Islanders club and was off to a solid start, with three points (2G / 1A) in five games.
Drouin has been placed on Injured Reserve, retroactive to Colorado's 8-4 opening night loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on October 9th when he suffered an upper-body injury. Ross Colton has been the main beneficiary in Drouin's absence, finding himself on a dangerous top powerplay unit.
Duclair had to be helped off the ice after suffering an apparent leg injury in Saturday's game. Post-game head coach Patrick Roy did not have an update on Duclair and they don't practice on Sunday, so don't expect an update on the winger until Monday at the earliest.
Rittich will make his second start in as many nights after getting the nod in Toronto on Wednesday. Rittich struggled against the Maple Leafs before being replaced by Pheonix Copley in the second period, allowing four goals on just 14 shots as the Kings suffered a 6-2 defeat. With Darcy Kuemper sidelined, the Kings will be hoping Rittich can regain his form from a season ago sooner rather than later. He has a good chance of securing his first win of the season tonight as the Kings find themselves as -135 favourites in Montreal.
Drouin played 21:25 in Colorado's season-opening 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights but has not returned to practice since. Ross Colton has been the main beneficiary in Drouin's absence, finding himself on a dangerous top powerplay unit.
Sorokin made his season debut for the Islanders on Monday after serving as the backup to Semyon Varlamov in their first two games and put forth an excellent performance, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, the Islanders first win of the 2024-25 season. Sorokin underwent offseason back surgery after the weakest season of his career in 2023-24, posting a pedestrian 3.01 GAA and .908 SV% in 56 games (25-19-12), but looks poised to return to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in 2022-23.
Sorokin made his season debut for the Islanders on Monday after serving as the backup to Semyon Varlamov in their first two games and put forth an excellent performance, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, the Islanders first win of the 2024-25 season. Sorokin underwent offseason back surgery after the weakest season of his career in 2023-24, posting a pedestrian 3.01 GAA and .908 SV% in 56 games (25-19-12), but looks poised to return to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in 2022-23.
With Darcy Kuemper (lower body) sidelined for at least one game, Rittich assumes the role of the Kings' starting netminder on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old Rittich has not played yet this season but will attempt to replicate his stats from a season ago when he emerged as a viable option in the net for the Kings, posting a 2.15 GAA and .921 SV% in 24 contests (13-6-3). The Kings enter action as +158 road underdogs against the Maple Leafs.
