New York Islanders News

Vanecek served as the backup to Nico Daws on Saturday in a one-side 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Given Vanecek's tremendous effort the previous night, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Devils will turn back to him on Monday. Vanecek has helped a struggling Devils squad record at least a point in each of his last three starts (2-0-1), posting a .907 SV% in the process. The Devils, losers of three of their last four (1-3-0), are -120 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are riding a three-game winning streak.

Varlamov has been sidelined most of the last month, battling a lower-body injury. Varlamov has been serviceable while backing up Ilya Sorokin this season, posting a 2.78 GAA and .918 SV% in 14 appearances (6-4-2). Before his injury, he was playing about one of every three games for the Islanders, but it is unclear if that trend will continue under their new bench boss, Patrick Roy.

Vanecek served as the backup to Nico Daws on Saturday in a one-side 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Given Vanecek's tremendous effort the previous night, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Devils will likely turn back to him on Monday. Vanecek has helped a struggling Devils squad record at least a point in each of his last three starts (2-0-1), posting a .907 SV% in the process. The Devils, losers of three of their last four (1-3-0), are -120 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are riding a three-game winning streak.

Sorokin allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Islanders' overtime loss in Chicago on Friday. Sorokin has allowed three or more goals in six of his lat seven starts, going 1-5-1 with an .893 SV% during that stretch. Tonight, he'll face a Stars team that has won five of their last seven games while averaging 4.1 goals per game.

With his grasp on the Devils' starting job slowly slipping away from him, Vanecek will get a shot at redemption on Friday as he will be back between the pipes for the Devils when they travel to Columbus. Nico Daws got the nod in goal in each of New Jersey's previous three games, but head coach Lindy Ruff is opting to go back to Vanecek after suffering back-to-back defeats. We last saw Vanecek on January 11th when he surrendered four goals on just 20 shots as the Devils suffered a 4-3 overtime defeat at the hands of the Lightning. Vanecek has managed to scrape together a 14-7-2 record on the season despite an .882 SV%. He's in an ideal spot to get back in the win column on Friday with the Devils being -150 favourites in Columbus.

Sorokin will start the eighth straight game on Friday and attempt to snap a three-game losing streak. Sorokin has only one win in his last six outings (1-5-0), allowing three or more goals five times, posting a pedestrian .900 SV%. That said, Sorokin is coming off a great performance in a losing effort, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Islanders have a favourable matchup as they are -250 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that played last night and was shut out 3-0 by the Buffalo Sabres

MacLean will likely suit up on the fourth line in his NHL debut on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The undrafted 24-year-old out of Livingston, New Jersey has spent the entirety of the last four seasons in the AHL, tallying 78 points (29G / 49A) in 193 games.

Sorokin will likely start the eighth straight game on Friday and attempt to snap a three-game losing streak. Sorokin has only one win in his last six outings (1-5-0), allowing three or more goals five times, posting a pedestrian .900 SV%. That said, Sorokin is coming off a great performance in a losing effort, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Islanders have a favourable matchup as they are -250 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that played last night and was shut out 3-0 by the Buffalo Sabres.

MacLean is one step closer to following in his 18-year NHL veteran father's footsteps as he has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) to the New York Islanders for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old undrafted free agent forward has enjoyed a solid AHL season with 19 points (6G/13A) in 36 games played prior to his call up.

Cizikas is eligible to return at any time after being placed on the Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury retroactive to January 9th on Wednesday but frees up an open roster spot on the Islanders in the meantime. The 32-year-old is producing at a similar rate to his previous seasons with 11 points (5G/6A) in 39 games played prior to his injury.

Sharks head coach David Quinn alluded to potential lineup changes ahead of Tuesday's game due to injury/illness, and it appears Duclair is the change he was referring to. Duclair has eight goals and eight assists in 40 games this season.

Oliver Wahlstrom will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday in Engvall's place. Engvall has five goals and nine assists in 41 games this season.

Sorokin will get the nod again on Tuesday after being pulled in Tuesday's loss to the Wild, marking the first time this season that the Islanders' starting netminder will start both ends of a back-to-back. Sorokin wasn't particularly poor on Monday, allowing three goals on 32 shots through two periods, as the move to pull him was likely done with more of an eye on tonight's game in Winnipeg as the Islanders were trailing the Wild by three goals heading into the third. Sorokin owns a 13-10-8 record on the season to go along with a .909 SV% and a 3.18 GAA.

Heineman has yet to pick up a point in any of the four games he's appeared in in 2023-24 but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. San Jose as Rafeal Harvey-Pinard returns from injury. The 22-year-old has averaged only 9:57 TOI in the games he has appeared in, picking up a +2 plus/minus while playing a complimentary role.

Vanecek will start for only the third time in the last six games for the Devils when they face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Vanecek was great in his last contest, albeit against a low-scoring Chicago Blackhawks team, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 victory. Vanecek has tallied consecutive quality starts only once this season and will be hard-pressed to do so on Thursday as the Devils are +136 road underdogs.

Cizikas exited the Islanders' Tuesday night contest against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period with a lower-body injury after playing only 3:54 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Cizikas had been limited to only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 11 games while registering 25 hits.

Sorokin will continue his hold on the Islanders' crease on Thursday, marking appearances in eight straight games as Semyon Varlamov remains out of the lineup due to an injury. However, his increased workload has not resulted in improved play. In his last seven games (2-4-1), Sorokin has allowed four or more goals four times, posting a subpar .888 SV%. Sorokin and the Islanders are +115 home underdogs on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite defeating them 4-3 less than a month ago when Sorkin saved 37 of 40 shots (.925 SV%).