Palmieri left the Devils season opener after playing just 10:29 TOI and will not be available for this afternoon’s game in Buffalo. With Palmieri out, Jesper Bratt will get an opportunity to play on the Devils’ top line with Taylor Hall and Pavel Zacha.
Varlamov turned aside 37 of 39 shots in Colorado’s opening night win in New York. It was an excellent start to 2017-18 for Varlamov, who has given Saturday night in New Jersey off. Varlamov will return to the crease in Boston, where the Bruins will be playing without Patrice Bergeron.
Clutterbuck came out of the lineup on Saturday because of a lower-body injury that he suffered on opening night. Clutterbuck will sit for a second straight game, which means the Islanders will go with the same lineup today vs. the Blues.
Palmieri recorded two assists in 10:29 TOI in the season opener before departing with a lower-body injury. The 26-year-old winger did travel to Buffalo, so he may not miss any time. Expect John Hynes to address the media around 12:45 pm ET and if Palmieri can’t play, look for Jesper Bratt to take his spot on the top line.
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.
Drouin was the No.3 overall pick in the 2013 draft and carried his success in the 2015-16 playoffs into 2016-17, when he scored 21 goals with 32 assists (53 points) in 73 games. The Canadiens ranked 15th in the NHL in scoring a season ago and Drouin should help them push for the top 10 in 2018.
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.
