New York Islanders News

Sorokin had been outstanding heading into the Islanders' previous game, allowing three or fewer goals in 18 of 19 games (12-6-1), posting a solid 2.04 GA and .932 SV%, but faltered from that on Tuesday, allowing five goals for the first time this season (.773 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old Sorokin hopes to get back on track on Thursday, as the Islanders enter the action as +139 road underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that has points in five straight games (3-0-2).

Sorokin had been outstanding heading into the Islanders' previous game, allowing three or fewer goals in 18 of 19 games (12-6-1), posting a solid 2.04 GA and .932 SV%, but faltered from that on Tuesday, allowing five goals for the first time this season (.773 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old Sorokin hopes to get back on track on Thursday, as the Islanders enter the action as +139 road underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that has points in five straight games (3-0-2).

Maxim Tsyplakov will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing MacLean to re-enter the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old MacLean has three points (1G / 2A) in 29 games this season.

Sorokin was solid in his most recent game, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old Sorkin has a solid 2.47 GAA and .915 SV% along with a league-leading four shutouts through 26 games this season (14-10-2). He has allowed three or fewer goals in 18 of his last 19 games (12-6-1).

Vanecek will make his first start in two weeks, looking to snap a miserable nine-game losing streak (0-8-1), where he has a 3.13 GAA and .867 SV%. That said, history is in Vanecek’s favour on Sunday as he tends the twine against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that he has a 1.55 GAA and .950 SV% against in seven career games (7-0-0).

MacLean played for four straight games, but will come out of the lineup to make room for Maxim Tsyplakov on Saturday.

Horvat just recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury and returned to the sidelines after only four games. The Islanders' upcoming seven-game road trip runs through January 21st, so the talented forward's return window isn't specific, but it is encouraging to know he will likely be back in the lineup within two weeks. Horvat has 33 points (21G 12A) in 36 games this season.

Schaefer was absent from practice on Monday due to illness, but he attended the team's morning skate on Tuesday and will be in the lineup in the evening against the New Jersey Devils. The 18-year-old rookie's tremendous season continued in the Islanders' most recent game, recording two goals, including the overtime winner, in a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 28 points (12G / 16A) in 42 games this season.

Sorokin has not played since December 19th, tending to a lower-body injury, but he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Sorokin has a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games this season (12-10-2) and has been terrific since the end of October, posting a 2.14 GAA and .927 SV% in 17 games (10-6-1).

Schaefer was absent from practice on Monday due to illness, and it is unclear whether he will be ready to play on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils, being marked as a game-time decision. The 18-year-old rookie's tremendous season continued in the Islanders' most recent game, recording two goals, including the overtime winner, in a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 28 points (12G / 16A) in 42 games this season.

Sorokin has not played since December 19th due to a lower-body injury. He will serve as David Rittich's backup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but could return to the crease on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Sorokin has a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games this season (12-10-2).

Horvat just recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury and will return to the sidelines. The injury is not expected to affect the 30-year-old's availability for the Olympics, meaning he should be back, at the latest, before the end of the month. Horvat has 33 points (21G 12A) in 36 games this season.

Warren's first exposure to the NHL was successful, scoring three assists in his first eight games, but he will return to a familiar place in the AHL. The 24-year-old Warren was a sixth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the majority of the previous three seasons in the AHL.

The Islanders will make some changes to their forward group on Thursday, with Maxim Tsyplakov and Kyle MacLean drawing into the lineup in place of Anthony Duclair and Marc Gatcomb. Duclair averaged 44.1 points per season across the first decade of his career, but has failed to maintain that pace since joining the Islanders, producing at a concerning 23.7 points per season over the last two seasons.