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New York Islanders News

Barzal (lower-body) returned to practice in full on Thursday.

Barzal has not played since suffering an upper-body injury at the end of October but has be actively skating on his own the past few weeks. He returned to practice for the first time on Thursday and has been upgraded to day-to-day. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games.

Mathew Barzal
Sorokin will start vs. Chicago on Thursday.

The Islanders will roll with Sorokin between the pipes for a seventh straight game on Thursday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite an unspectacular 3-2-1 record, Sorokin has strung together some strong play over his last six games, allowing three or fewer goals five times and posting a solid .919 SV%. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -186 home favorites against a Blackhawks squad that snapped a five-game losing skid (0-5-0) on Monday with an impressive 2-1 win over the New York Rangers.

Ilya Sorokin
Sorokin was the first goalie off the ice at New York's morning skate.

The Islanders will roll with Sorokin between the pipes for a seventh straight game on Thursday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite an unspectacular 3-2-1 record, Sorokin has strung together some strong play over his last six games, allowing three or fewer goals five times and posting a solid .919 SV%. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -186 home favorites against a Blackhawks squad that snapped a five-game losing skid (0-5-0) on Monday with an impressive 2-1 win over the New York Rangers.

Ilya Sorokin
Sorokin will start vs. Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Partly due to Semyon Varlamov battling through a lower-body issue, Sorokin has taken reign of the Islanders' crease and will start his sixth consecutive game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old Sorokin is sporting a respectable 2.64 GAA and .909 SV% but has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in three of his last five (2-2-1), posting a .883 SV%. The Islanders enter Tuesday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Kings team riding a season-best five-game winning streak.

Ilya Sorokin
Barzal (upper-body) has been skating on his own.

Barzal has not played since suffering an upper-body injury at the end of October but has be actively skating on his own. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games.

Mathew Barzal
Sorokin will start vs. Seattle on Thursday.

With Semyon Varlamov (lower body) day-to-day, Sorokin will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been solid this season, posting a 2.48 GAA and .916 SV% in 16 games (6-6-4). He has saved 54 of 56 shots faced (.964 SV%) over his last two outings (1-0-1). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Kraken club coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ilya Sorokin
Sorokin is in the starter's crease at the Islanders' morning skate on Thursday.

With Semyon Varlamov (lower body) day-to-day, Sorokin will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been solid this season, posting a 2.48 GAA and .916 SV% in 16 games (6-6-4). He has saved 54 of 56 shots faced (.964 SV%) over his last two outings (1-0-1). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Kraken club coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ilya Sorokin
Rittich will start vs. Dallas on Wednesday.

Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) is nearing a return to the lineup, but Rittich will continue his hold of the Kings' crease on Wednesday against the Dalla Stars. Rittich was solid in his previous outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 32-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.48 GAA and .887 SV% in 16 games (9-6-0). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Stars club riding a three-game winning streak.

David Rittich
Rittich is expected to start vs. Dallas on Wednesday.

Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) is nearing a return to the lineup, but Rittich will continue his hold of the Kings' crease on Wednesday against the Dalla Stars. Rittich was solid in his previous outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 32-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.48 GAA and .887 SV% in 16 games (9-6-0). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Stars club riding a three-game winning streak.

David Rittich