New York Islanders News

Heineman has yet to pick up a point in any of the four games he's appeared in in 2023-24 but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. San Jose as Rafeal Harvey-Pinard returns from injury. The 22-year-old has averaged only 9:57 TOI in the games he has appeared in, picking up a +2 plus/minus while playing a complimentary role.

Cizikas exited the Islanders' Tuesday night contest against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period with a lower-body injury after playing only 3:54 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Cizikas had been limited to only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 11 games while registering 25 hits.

Sorokin will continue his hold on the Islanders' crease on Thursday, marking appearances in eight straight games as Semyon Varlamov remains out of the lineup due to an injury. However, his increased workload has not resulted in improved play. In his last seven games (2-4-1), Sorokin has allowed four or more goals four times, posting a subpar .888 SV%. Sorokin and the Islanders are +115 home underdogs on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite defeating them 4-3 less than a month ago when Sorkin saved 37 of 40 shots (.925 SV%).

Samuel Bolduc is expected to come out of the lineup for the Islanders on Tuesday with Pelech expected to make his return. This will mark his first game since November 24th, a 20-game absence. Before his injury, Pelech had three points (0G / 3A), 28 blocks, and 15 hits in 16 games.

Varlamov left last Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche late in the first period due to an injury with the score being 1-1. He was replaced by Ilya Sorokin, who has started every game while Varlamov has been unavailable. He remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury but has been placed on IR retroactive to January 2nd.

With Semyon Varlamov still sidelined with no definitive return timeline, Sorokin will start for the seventh time in the last eight games, his busiest stretch of play this season. That said, the increased workload hasn't been beneficial to Sorokin. In his last seven appearances (3-3-1), he has allowed four or more goals four times, posting a subpar .892 SV% in the process. Things won't get easier for Sorokin and the Islanders as they face off against a high-flying Vancouver Canucks team that defeated the New York Rangers last night by a score of 6-3.

With Semyon Varlamov still sidelined with no definitive return timeline, Sorokin will likely start for the seventh time in the last eight games, his busiest stretch of play this season. That said, the increased workload hasn't been beneficial to Sorokin. In his last seven appearances (3-3-1), he has allowed four or more goals four times, posting a subpar .892 SV% in the process. Things won't get easier for Sorokin and the Islanders as they face off against a high-flying Vancouver Canucks team that defeated the New York Rangers last night by a score of 6-3.

Samuel Bolduc is expected to come out of the lineup for the Islanders on Tuesday if Pelech can make his return. If Pelech plays on Tuesday, it would make his first game since November 24th, a 20-game absence. Before his injury, Pelech had three points (0G / 3A), 28 blocks, and 15 hits in 16 games.

With Martin Necas (upper-body) and Stefan Noesen (illness) both unavailable on Friday, DeAngelo will get the opportunity to play for the first time since December 17th as the Hurricanes are forced into dressing seven defensemen against the Capitals. DeAngelo has two goals and seven assists in 20 games this season.

Pelech has been out since November 24th but is nearing a return to the Islanders' lineup as he is now day-to-day with a possibility to dress Saturday vs. Vegas. The 29-year-old's presence has been a big miss from the Islanders' lineup as he had three assists, 17 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.

Boqvist has missed the last 13 games due to a shoulder injury, last playing on December 5th. Boqvist had three points (0G / 3A), averaging 17:05 time-on-ice through 13 games this season and will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.

Heineman was reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL last week but has been recalled by the Canadiens on an emergency basis. In 10 games with Laval, Heineman has six points (2G / 4A) and a -7 plus/minus rating.