After starting 57-plus games for three straight seasons, Varlamov was bit by the injury bug last season, starting just 23 games. In his 24 appearances, the Russian netminder struggled to an ugly 3.38 GAA and .898 SV%. Varlamov plays behind one of the worst teams in the NHL which will limit his upside in 2017-18. Look for him to improve on last year’s numbers, but he draws a difficult matchup in his first start of the year.
Mayfield was in the lineup for the last four games, where he had one assist while averaging 12:56 TOI/GM. Mayfield, who has appeared 21 games with the Islanders this season, but will be scratched for Thomas Hickey tonight.
Mayfield was in the lineup on Saturday, but will be a healthy scratch for the third time in four games. He will be replaced by Adam Pelech.
Pelech came out of the lineup for Saturday’s game in St. Louis, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Pelech will replace Scott Mayfield and comes in with just six points (1G / 5A) in 29 games this season.
Pelech was in the lineup for the last two games, but will be replaced by Scott Mayfield tonight.
Mayfield was a healthy scratch for the last two games, but will replace Adam Pelech in the lineup tonight in St. Louis. Mayfield has five points (1G / 4A) in 16 games this season.
Duclair, who had a breakout 20-goal, 24-assist season in 2015-16, struggled to just nine points (3G / 6A) in 41 games this season before being sent down. During his time with the Roadrunners, the 21-year-old tallied just one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 16 games.
Clutterbuck returned to the lineup on Tuesday, but is out once again with a lower-body injury. It’s unclear whether he re-aggravated the same injury or suffered a new injury, but he’ll be replaced by Stephen Gionta either way.
Cizikas suffered an upper-body injury in Detroit on Tuesday and is expected to miss one month. With him out for four weeks, Cizikas’ move to IR was simply a formality to open a roster spot.
