McWard played 15 games with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) and will make his Vancouver debut on Tuesday. He is expected to replace Mark Friedman, who will be a healthy scratch.
Sorokin is coming off a rare shutout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, in which he saved all 40 shots he faced. In his last five games (2-1-2), Sorokin has saved 176 of 189 shots (.931 SV%) and seems to be trending toward the Vezina-caliber form he has displayed over the last several seasons. Sorokin will need to be at his finest on Tuesday as the Islanders are +140 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team coming off a dominant 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Matt Martin has not played since November 15th and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday after being activated from the injured reserve. In 14 games this season, Martin had two points (1G / 1A) and 31 hits while averaging 8:27 time-on-ice., the lowest total of his career since averaging 7:59 in the 2017-18 season.
Sorokin will return to the Islanders' crease after backup Semyon Varlamov got the nod for Friday's game in Ottawa. Sorokin is coming off one of his best starts of the season, denying 34 of the 36 shots he faced in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Flyers. The 28-year-old netminder owns a 5-3-4 record on the year to go along with his .909 SV% and 3.21 GAA.
Martin has missed the Islanders' previous four games due to an upper-body injury and was placed on the injured reserve Saturday. The 34-year-old bruising winger had been enjoying a slow start to his 2023-24 season, with a goal, as assist, 11 SOG, and seven PIMs in 14 games played prior to the injury.
Pelech suffered an upper-body injury on Friday and was placed on LTIR on Saturday. The move means that Pelech will miss 10 games/24 days and opens up $5.75M in cap-space for them to make some call-ups to replace Pelech and maybe Sebastian Aho, who was also injured on Friday.
The Islanders lost both Pelech and Sebastian Aho on Friday, and both are questionable to play Saturday. Depending on their availability, the Islanders may be forced to make some roster moves in order to have six defensemen.
Varlamov will be the starting goalie on the front end of a back-to-back for the Islanders on Friday. Despite a 2-3-1 record, Varlamov has been terrific when called upon this season, posting a 2.18 GAA and .934 SV% along with two shutouts. The Islanders are +118 road underdogs against the Ottawa Senators but have momentum on their side as they look for their third consecutive victory after overcoming a season-worst seven-game losing skid (0-4-3).
McWard had a goal, three assists, four PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 15 games with Abbotsford (AHL) but has been recalled for the first time this season to Vancouver. The 22-year-old undrafted defensemen made his NHL debut in 2022-23 straight from Ohio State (NCAA) and had a goal and six SOG in a small five game showing to close out the year.
Varlamov appears to be the starting goalie on the front end of a back-to-back for the Islanders on Friday. Despite a 2-3-1 record, Varlamov has been terrific when called upon this season, posting a 2.18 GAA and .934 SV% along with two shutouts. The Islanders are +118 road underdogs against the Ottawa Senators but have momentum on their side as they look for their third consecutive victory after overcoming a season-worst seven-game losing skid (0-4-3).
Sorokin saved 35 of 39 shots (.897 SV%) on Saturday, helping the Islanders snap a season-worst seven-game losing skid, and will likely start again on Wednesday. Last year's Vezina-runner-up has performed well below his expectations thus far, posting a 3.32 GAA and .906 SV% through 11 games (4-3-4). The Islanders will hope his most recent win sparks a string of good play for a team that has otherwise been reeling in the wrong direction and, as -147 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers, look poised to do so on Wednesday night.
Sorokin saved 35 of 39 shots (.897 SV%) on Saturday, helping the Islanders snap a season-worst seven-game losing skid, and will likely start again on Wednesday. Last year's Vezina-runner-up has performed well below his expectations thus far, posting a 3.32 GAA and .906 SV% through 11 games (4-3-4). The Islanders will hope his most recent win sparks a string of good play for a team that has otherwise been reeling in the wrong direction and, as -147 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers, look poised to do so on Wednesday night.
Foudy did not play in the Predators' most recent game on Saturday but will return to the lineup on Monday, likely skating on the third line with Yakov Trenin and Colton Sissons. Since joining the Predators in October, Foudy has scored two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 9:44 time-on-ice through eight games.
Highmore has been returned to the Belleville Senators of the AHL, where he has seven points (2G / 5A) in nine games, after being called up to join Ottawa during the NHL Global Series in Sweden.
Sorokin will return to the Islanders' crease on Saturday after Semyon Varlamov got the call in Thursday's 4-3 loss in Seattle. Sorokin last appeared in Wednesday's game in Vancouver, allowing four goals on 43 shots in the 4-3 overtime loss. Sorokin is off to a relatively slow start to his 2023-24 season, registering a 3-3-4 record to go along with his .907 SV% and 3.28 GAA. He and the Islanders are slight road underdogs at +120 tonight in Calgary.
