New York Islanders News

Pelech was a late scratch for Thursday's game with a "lower-body injury" that the Islanders confirmed was an Achilles tendon injury on Friday. Pelech will miss the rest of the 2020 season, so Sebastian Aho (not that one) has been called up from Bridgeport (AHL).

Pelech was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup, so Noah Dobson will replace him vs. the Devils. Pelech should be considered day-to-day as we head into the weekend.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 39 shots in the Islanders win in Washington on New Year's Eve. Varlamov has won two in a row and will make his fourth straight start on Thursday. He was an impressive 7-0-1 with a 2.34 GAA And .922 SV% in December and draws a nice matchup vs. a Devils team that was 3-5-0 while averaging 2.50 goals for in eight road games in December.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 39 shots in the Islanders win in Washington on New Year's Eve. Varlamov has won two in a row and will make his fourth straight start on Thursday. He was an impressive 7-0-1 with a 2.34 GAA And .922 SV% in December and draws a nice matchup vs. a Devils team that was 3-5-0 while averaging 2.50 goals for in eight road games in December.

Rittich was yanked after allowing three goals on seven shots in the Flames 5-2 loss to the Canucks on Sunday. It was a rough outing for Rittich, who is 5-2-1 with a 2.90 GAA and .909 SV% in December. Tonight he faces a Blackhawks team that has won four of their last five while scoring 3.60 goals per game.

Varlamov allowed one goal on 26 shots in the Islanders win in Minnesota on Sunday. He seems to have taken over the No.1 job for head coach Barry Trotz and gets set to face the team that drafted him for the second time this season. He allowed two goals on 28 shots in a 2-1 loss in his Islanders debut.

Boqvist missed one game with a shoulder injury but will replace Olli Maatta in the lineup tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. Boqvist has one goal and two assists in 14 games this season.

Hogberg surrendered four goals on 38 shots in the Senators shootout loss to the Flyers on December 21st. Hogberg has allowed four goals in three straight outings, posting a .896 SV% in the process. Tonight he faces a scorching hot Penguins team that has won six of their last seven games (6-1-0) while averaging 3.86 goals for and 2.43 goals against per game.

Rittich allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Flames win in Dallas last Sunday. Rittich has played extremely well over the last month, going 6-1-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .922 SV% in his last eight starts. Rittich was 2-1-0 with a 1.68 GAA and .938 SV% in three starts against Edmonton in 2018-19.

Boqvist was hurt early in Monday's loss to the Devils and won't play tonight vs. the Islanders. Boqvist should get a chance to play big minutes with Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan out for the year but he'll have to wait for his shoulder to be 100 percent.

Rittich surrendered four goals on 43 shots in the Flames loss to the Canadiens on Thursday. Rittich has lost two straight while giving up seven goals on 73 shots (.904 SV%) and draws a tough road assignment in Dallas. The Stars have won 10 of their last 13 home games (10-2-1) while scoring 3.31 goals per game.

Clutterbuck was taken to the hospital after cutting his wrist in Thursday's game in Boston and will be out indefinitely after undergoing surgery. Andrew Ladd has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) to take Clutterbuck's spot on the roster.

Hogberg allowed four goals on 40 shots in the Senators loss in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. In his first three NHL games this season, Hogberg has posted a 2.57 GAA and .913 SV% and will start tonight in place of the Nilsson, who was the scheduled starter. Nashville has won four of their last six while scoring 4.33 goals per game, including an eight-goal outing against the Islanders on Tuesday.

Rittich surrendered three goals on 30 shots in the Flames loss to the Hurricanes last Saturday. Cam Talbot started Tuesday, so Rittich will be well-rested for tonight's game vs. the Canadiens. Saturday's loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Rittich, who is 9-2-2 with a 2.36 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout at the Scotiabank Saddledome this season. Tonight he faces a Canadiens team that has won four of their last five while scoring 13 goals (2.60 GF/gm).

Varlamov allowed three goals on nine shots after replacing Thomas Greiss in the Islanders 8-3 loss to the Predators on Tuesday. The Islanders goalie rotation will remain intact and Varlamov enters play at 4-0-0 with 2.02 GAA and .936 SV% in December. He has gone 5-1-1 with a 1.70 GAA, .943 SV% and one shutout on the road this season but has a tough assignment in Boston, where the Bruins are 12-1-6.