With Bo Horvat returning to the Islanders' lineup on Saturday, Duclair will sit vs. the Rangers. Head coach Patrick Roy called it "heartbreaking" when deciding who to take out of the lineup and added that Duclair has "played well." Duclair has not scored in 10 games, picking up just three assists during that stretch.
Hogberg is expected to serve as the Islanders' backup for both of their games this weekend, with David Rittich expected to start both games. Ilya Sorokin could be back as soon as Tuesday, at which point Hogberg will return to the AHL. He's 5-7-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .881 SV% in 14 AHL games this season.
With Ilya Sorokin (lower body) still on Injured Reserve, the Islanders will likely turn to Rittich in back-to-back games. The 33-year-old Rittich was excellent in yesterday's 2-0 win over the New York Rangers, saving all 27 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. He has a solid 2.25 GAA and .919 SV% in 14 games (9-3-2).
Sorokin's move to IR is retroactive to December 20th, which means he's eligible to return for their next game. Sorokin will travel to Columbus on Saturday, and could return as soon as Tuesday in Chicago. Look for David Rittich to start both of their games on their Saturday/Sunday back-to-back.
Horvat missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, but will play Saturday vs. the Rangers. Horvat, who will be back on the top line with Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman, has 19 goals and 12 assists (31 points) in 32 games this season.
Rittich stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Islanders' 2-1 win over the Devils on Tuesday. Rittich has played very well in his last three starts, going 2-0-1 while stopping 92 of the 97 shots (.948 SV%) that he's faced. Tonight he'll face the Rangers on home-ice, where he's gone 6-1-1 with a 2.08 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout this season.
Maxim Shabanov returns to New York's lineup on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils, resulting in Tysplakov being a healthy scratch. After a solid first year in the NHL last season, scoring 35 points (10G / 25A) in 75 games, Tsyplakov has had a miserable 2025-26 season, with just one goal through 21 games.
Maxim Tsyplakov will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Shabanov to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Shabanov, a first-year NHLer, has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 23 games this season, but has just one assist in his last seven despite seeing a sizable increase in deployment over that time.
With Ilya Sorkin sidelined, tending to a nagging injury, Rittich will tend the twine for the Islanders on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. Rittich has been solid in a supporting role this season, posting a 2.54 GAA and .908 SV% in 12 games (7-3-2), and has elevated his play lately. The 33-year-old Czech goalie has a stellar 2.05 GAA and .926 SV% in his last seven games (4-1-2).
Horvat has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on December 11th, but could return on Saturday in the Islanders' first game back after the Holiday Break. Before his injury, the 30-year-old Horvat was having an outstanding offensive season, with 31 points (19G / 12A) in 32 games.
Sorokin has been solid lately, but will miss at least one game due to an undisclosed injury. The 30-year-old Sorokin has a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games this season (12-10-2). The Islanders have recalled Marcus Hogberg from Bridgeport (AHL), but David Rittich will likely see most of the action between the pipes during Sorokin's absence.
Ilya Sorokin is battling an undisclosed injury, prompting the recall of Hogberg from the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL). Sorokin is expected to return shortly after the holiday break, so it's unlikely that Hogberg sees much action, as David Rittich will likely occupy New York's crease.
Barzal is likely battling a nagging injury, as he was a game-time decision earlier this week as well, despite still drawing into the lineup. The 28-year-old Barzal is riding a five-game point streak, scoring five points (1G / 4A).
Barzal is likely battling a nagging injury, as he was a game-time decision earlier this week as well, despite still drawing into the lineup. The 28-year-old Barzal is riding a five-game point streak, scoring five points (1G / 4A), and hopes he will be able to suit up again on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Boqvist has only played once in the last three weeks, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 25-year-old Boqvist is averaging 12:41 time-on-ice and has one assist in 11 games this season.
