Sorokin allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Islanders loosen Ottawa on Thursday. The Islanders have a pivotal back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. Sorokin will start the first game in Montreal, and head coach Patrick Roy did not rule him out from starting tomorrow as well. Sorokin has been might better on the road this season, going 18-8-1 with a 2.30 GAA, .917 SV% and five shutouts.
Comments from Mammoth head coach André Tourigny seemed to suggest the team was leaning towards starting Karel Vejmelka on back-to-back nights, but Utah will ultimately go the conventional route and give Vanecek the nod on Friday. Vanecek secured the victory in his last start, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced in an impressive 6-3 win in Dallas on Monday. The 30-year-old netminder carries a 5-9-3 record and an .889 SV% into Friday night's game, where the Mammoth enter action at +110 on the money line.
Sorokin was excellent in New York's previous games, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 30-year-old Sorokin has been one of the NHL's most consistent goalies this season. That said, he has not needed to be spectacular since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 2.73 GAA and .904 SV% in seven games (5-2-0). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Senators team that narrowly avoided being shut out last night, losing 4-1 to the Washington Capitals.
Sorokin was excellent in New York's previous games, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 30-year-old Sorokin has been one of the NHL's most consistent goalies this season. That said, he has not needed to be spectacular since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 2.73 GAA and .904 SV% in seven games (5-2-0). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Senators team that narrowly avoided being shut out last night, losing 4-1 to the Washington Capitals.
The 20th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Eiserman will turn pro at the start of next season after spending the last two seasons at Boston University. The 19-year-old winger tallied 43 goals and 21 assists in 71 career NCAA games. Eiserman will reportedly sign an amateur tryout with Bridgeport, the Islanders AHL affiliate, and spend the remainder of the season there before his pro contract officially begins next season.
Aitcheson was drafted 17th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and is awaiting his professional debut. The 19-year-old defenseman is having a tremendous fourth season in the OHL, scoring 70 points (28G / 42A) in 54 games with the Barrie Colts.
Despite Karel Vejmelka being the first goalie off the ice at the Mammoth's morning skate on Monday (typically an indicator of the night's starter), it will be Vanecek who gets the start in Dallas. Vanecek's last start came back on March 9th when he allowed three goals on 26 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blackhawks. The 30-year-old netminder owns a 4-9-3 record and an .889 SV% on the season. The Mammoth enter Monday's contest as +137 road underdogs against the NHL's hottest team, the Dallas Stars, who are 14-0-1 in their last 15 games.
Sorokin has been one of the NHL's top netminders this season, but he has battled some adversity in recent weeks. The 30-year-old goalie has uncharacteristically allowed three or more goals in seven of his last nine games, but his team has often bailed him out, leading him to a 6-3-0 record despite pedestrian 3.02 GAA and .901 SV%.
Sorokin has been one of the NHL's best goalies this season, but has battled some adversity lately. Since returning from the Olympic break, the 30-year-old Sorokin has allowed three or more goals in four of five games, but has salvaged a 4-1-0 record despite a less-than-stellar 3.00 GAA and .896 SV%.
Duclair was surprisingly listed as a scratch on the official roster report despite taking full part in warmups Maxim Shabanov will dress in his place.
Vanecek has seen limited action lately, with only three starts since the beginning of January (3-0-1), but was tremendous in last week's 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, saving all 16 shots he faced for his first shutout in a Utah jersey. The 30-year-old Czech goalie has a solid 2.22 GAA and .917 SV% in his last five games (2-2-1). The Mammoth enter Monday's contest as significant -222 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that lost 4-3 in overtime last night to the Dallas Stars.
Sorokin was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks, and will return to the crease on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old goalie has had some up-and-down performances lately, uncharacteristically allowing three or more goals in five of his last seven outings, yet he has not let that deter his winning ways, going 5-2-0.
Vanecek has seen limited action lately, with only three starts since the beginning of January (3-0-1), but was tremendous in last week's 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, saving all 16 shots he faced for his first shutout in a Utah jersey. The 30-year-old Czech goalie has a solid 2.22 GAA and .917 SV% in his last five games (2-2-1). The Mammoth enter Monday's contest as significant -222 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that lost 4-3 in overtime last night to the Dallas Stars.
Varlamov has not played in the 2025-26 season due to a knee injury and Islanders' GM Mathieu Darche announced on Friday that he does not expect Varlamov back this season. The 37-year-old veteran goalie has one year remaining on his contract with the Islanders.
