Kovacevic recently made his season debut after knee surgery and will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday as he continues to acclimate to game speed. Simon Nemec will draw back into New Jersey's lineup as Kovacevic's replacement.
Bjugstad has not played in over a month because of an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 33-year-old Bjugstad was averaging 11:27 time-on-ice and had five points (4G / 1A) in 25 games before his injury.
The Devils hope to snap a three-game losing skid on Sunday, turning to Allen to tend the twine against the Winnipeg Jets. The 35-year-old Allen has lost two straight (0-2-0), allowing three or more goals in each, but he has been reliable most of the season, posting a solid 2.61 GAA and .909 SV% in 23 games (11-10-1). The Devils enter Sunday’s contest as +110 road underdogs.
Noesen will "undergo knee surgery next week to address a lingering injury" according to the Devils. Noesen will be placed on IR and is out indefinitely. He enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign, but has just seven points (3G / 4A) in 38 games this season.
Dylan McIlrath will be a healthy scratch for Washington on Wednesday, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Chisholm has not played since December 23rd. He has three assists in 15 games this season.
The Devils will unsurprisingly turn to Allen between the pipes tonight after Jacob Markstrom was tagged for nine goals in Tuesday's embarrassing loss on Long Island. Allen himself took the loss in his last start, allowing three goals on 29 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday. The 35-year-old netminder is enjoying another successful season as New Jersey's backup, logging an 11-9-1 record and a .911 SV% across 22 appearances. Allen and the Devils enter action on Thursday at -105 on the money line.
Ilya Sorokin returned from a two-week absence due to an injury in the Islanders' most recent game, recording a shutout in a 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils, but the team will turn to Rittich on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old Rittich has been excellent over the last two months, posting a solid 2.25 GAA and .916 SV% in 13 games (8-3-2). The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight +108 road underdogs against a Predators team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Ilya Sorokin returned from a two-week absence due to an injury in the Islanders' most recent game, recording a shutout in a 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils, but the team will turn to Rittich on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old Rittich has been excellent over the last two months, posting a solid 2.25 GAA and .916 SV% in 13 games (8-3-2). The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight +108 road underdogs against a Predators team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Ilya Sorokin (lower body) has been activated from Injured Reserve, but he will serve as Rittich's backup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 33-year-old Rittich has been solid this season, but is coming off a forgetful outing, allowing five goals on 14 shots (.643 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has a 2.46 GAA and .909 SV% in 17 games this season (10-5-2).
Ilya Sorokin (lower body) is not ready to return yet, but his absence has not been an issue for the Islanders, as Rittich continues his strong 2025-26 campaign. The 33-year-old Czech goalie has a stellar 2.27 GAA and .918 SV% in 16 games (10-4-2). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as slight +108 home underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that has lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).
After an 8-1-0 start to the season, the Devils have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference, plummeting in the standings, going 12-16-2. The Devils hope to end the calendar year on a high note, turning to Allen to tend the twine against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 35-year-old Allen has a solid 2.54 GAA and .910 SV% in 20 games this season (10-8-1). The Devils enter the action as +108 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
Ilya Sorokin (lower body) remains out of the lineup, but the Islanders have received adequate goaltending from Rittich in his absence, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Rittich has an excellent 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games this season (9-4-2). The 33-year-old Czech goalie has been outstanding lately, posting a 1.65 GAA and .949 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Islanders enter Tuesday's action as -133 road favorites against a Blackhawks team coming off a 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ilya Sorokin (lower body) remains out of the lineup, but the Islanders have received adequate goaltending from Rittich in his absence, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Rittich has an excellent 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games this season (9-4-2). The 33-year-old Czech goalie has been outstanding lately, posting a 1.65 GAA and .949 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Islanders enter Tuesday's action as -133 road favorites against a Blackhawks team coming off a 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jonathan Aspirot is returning from a multi-week absence due to an upper-body injury, which will leave Kolyachonok as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Kolyachonok was acquired earlier this month off waivers from the Dallas Stars. He is pointless and has a -1 plus/minus in two games with the Bruins.
With Ilya Sorokin (lower body) still on Injured Reserve, the Islanders will turn to Rittich in back-to-back games. The 33-year-old Rittich was excellent in yesterday's 2-0 win over the New York Rangers, saving all 27 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. He has a solid 2.25 GAA and .919 SV% in 14 games (9-3-2).
