New York Islanders News

Pelech has one goal and four assists in 15 games this season. He was a minus-2 in Florida on Saturday and will be replaced by Luca Sbisa tonight vs. the Canucks.

Rittich gave up three goals on 15 shots in the Flames win over the Blackhawks last Saturday. Rittich has been rock-solid for the Flames this season, posting a 2.24 GAA and .927 SV% in seven games. He should make for a solid starting in Los Angeles.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 33 shots in Colorado’s loss to the Predators on Wednesday. Varlamov has now lost four in a row while posting a 3.09 GAA and .901 SV%. He draws a tough matchup vs. a well rested Jets team in Winnipeg. The 30-year-old netminder is 2-2-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .932 SV% on the road so far this season.

Varlamov allowed six goals on 37 shots in Colorado’s loss in Calgary last Thursday. Varlamov had a great start to the season but has now lost three in a row while allowing nine goals on 88 shots (.898 SV%). Tonight he faces a Predators team that has won three in a row and four of their last five. Varlamov is 2-1-1 with a 1.76 GAA and .943 SV% on home-ice so far this season.

Clutterbuck has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, but will replace Tom Kuhnhackl in the Islanders lineup on Thursday. Clutterbuck has just one assist, 14 PIMS and nine shots on goal in nine games this season.

Varlamov allowed two goals on 27 shots in Colorado’s 3-2 loss in Minnesota on Saturday. Varlamov has just one win in his last five starts (1-2-2) despite posting an unreal 1.79 GAA and .948 SV%. Varlamov heads to Calgary at 2-1-1 with a 1.48 GAA and .957 SV% on the road this season.

Clutterbuck will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury, so Tom Kuhnhackl will remain on the Islanders fourth line.

Rittich allowed three goals on 15 shots after replacing Mike Smith in the Flames 9-1 loss to the Penguins last Thursday. Rittich will make his fourth start of the season tonight—he is 2-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .946 SV% in his first three starts (all on the road).

Varlamov allowed just one goal on 24 shots but lost 1-0 to the Lightning on Wednesday. Regardless of the loss, Varlamov has been exceptional for the Avalanche so far this season, posting a 1.56 GAA and .953 SV% in his first seven games. On of those wins came against the Wild, who he’ll face again tonight—he stopped 20 of 21 shots in a win over Minnesota on opening night.

Varlamov allowed just one goal on 24 shots but lost 1-0 to the Lightning on Wednesday. Regardless of the loss, Varlamov has been exceptional for the Avalanche so far this season, posting a 1.56 GAA and .953 SV% in his first seven games. On of those wins came against the Wild, who he’ll face again tonight—he stopped 20 of 21 shots in a win over Minnesota on opening night.

Varlamov stopped 37 of 38 shots in Colorado’s win in Philadelphia on Monday. Varlamov snapped a brief two-game losing skid and is now 4-0-2 with a 1.64 GAA and .953 SV% in his six starts this season. As good as he has been, Varlamov draws a tough matchup with the Lightning in town—they’re second in the NHL in goal-scoring (3.86 GF/PG) through seven games.

Rittich stopped 44 of 45 shots in the Flames win in New York on Sunday. Rittich has played exceptionally well this season, stopping 76 of the 79 shots (.962 SV%) that he has faced in two starts and one relief appearance. Rittich is outplaying Mike Smith early-on, so he’ll make his second straight start tonight in Montreal—a matchup that offers some spot-start value.

Varlamov allowed two goals on 43 shots in Colorado’s loss in New York last Tuesday. Philipp Grubauer started the last two games, so they’ll come back to Varlamov tonight in Philadelphia. In his first two starts against the Flyers, Varlamov stopped 35 of 37 shots in a 5-2 win in Colorado on October 6th.