New York Islanders News

Sorokin was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate.

The Islanders will return to Sorokin on Tuesday night for his third straight start. Sorokin struggled in his last outing at the Stadium Series against the New York Rangers on Sunday, allowing two goals in the final five minutes en route to an eventual 6-5 overtime loss. Before that, Sorokin was amid one of his best stretches of the season, allowing three or fewer goals in five straight games (3-1-1), boasting an impressive .936 SV%. The Islanders enter action as +117 road underdogs against a struggling Pittsburgh Penguins team.

Ilya Sorokin
Bear is expected to draw back into Washington's lineup on Tuesday vs. New Jersey.

Bear played four straight games for the Capitals before being a healthy scratch on Saturday but will return to the lineup on Tuesday night. In his last four games, Bear has zero points, one shot, and five hits while averaging less than 14 minutes of time-on-ice.

Ethan Bear
Sorokin will start Sunday vs. the Rangers.

Sorokin stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Islanders' 2-1 shootout loss to the Kraken on Tuesday. Sorokin has gone 3-1-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .936 SV% in five starts since the Islanders hired Patrick Roy. The 28-year-old netminder has played well vs. the Rangers throughout his career, going 3-2-0 with a 2.40 GAA, .936 SV% and one shutout in five meetings.

Ilya Sorokin
Rittich will start in New Jersey on Thursday.

Despite being pulled after giving up five goals on just 17 shots in Tuesday's 7-0 thrashing at the hands of the Sabres, Rittich will be back between the pipes for the Kings on Thursday. This might be the strongest indication that it really is Rittich's starting job at this point, though to be fair, Cam Talbot didn't fare much better on Tuesday. Rittich owns a 6-2-3 record on the season to go along with a .919 SV% and a 2.23 GAA. He and the Kings have even odds to pick up the win in New Jersey on Thursday.

David Rittich
Barzal (maintenance) is considered day-to-day and did not practice Thursday after participating in the Islander's team picture.

Barzal has only missed one game this season, was given a maintenance day on Thursday, and did not participate in practice. Barzal leads the Islanders in scoring with 56 points (15G / 41A) in 52 games, the best point-per-game pace of his seven-year career (1.08 PTS / G).

Mathew Barzal
Rittich will start in Buffalo on Tuesday.

Rittich will continue his reign over the Kings' crease and start his fourth straight game on Tuesday evening. The Czech netminder is riding a two-game winning streak and is coming off a tremendous performance in his last outing, saving all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory over the typically high-scoring Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are -131 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres club that has scored only two goals in their last two games (0-2-0).

David Rittich
Rittich was the first goalie off at Los Angeles' morning skate.

Rittich will continue his reign over the Kings' crease and start his fourth straight game on Tuesday evening. The Czech netminder is riding a two-game winning streak and is coming off a tremendous performance in his last outing, saving all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory over the typically high-scoring Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are -131 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres club that has scored only two goals in their last two games (0-2-0).

David Rittich
Ilya Sorokin will start on Tuesday vs. Seattle.

Semyon Varlamov was in the crease in the Islanders' previous game and fell to 0-2-1 since Patrick Roy took over as coach, contrasting Sorokin's impressive 3-1-0 record in that span. Sorokin has played exceptionally in his last two outings, allowing four total goals and boasting a .929 SV%. The 28-year-old Sorokin will return to the crease on Tuesday in a favourable matchup against a low-scoring Seattle Kraken team (2.73 GF / GP) that was defeated 3-1 by the New Jersey Devils last night.

Ilya Sorokin
Sorokin was in the starter's crease at the Islanders' morning skate.

Semyon Varlamov was in the crease in the Islanders' previous game and fell to 0-2-1 since Patrick Roy took over as coach, contrasting Sorokin's impressive 3-1-0 record in that span. Sorokin has played exceptionally in his last two outings, allowing four total goals and boasting a .929 SV%. The 28-year-old Sorokin will likely return to the crease on Tuesday in a favourable matchup against a low-scoring Seattle Kraken team (2.73 GF / GP) that was defeated 3-1 by the New Jersey Devils last night.

Ilya Sorokin