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New York Islanders News

Sorokin will start Sunday vs. the Rangers.

Sorokin stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Islanders' 2-1 shootout loss to the Kraken on Tuesday. Sorokin has gone 3-1-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .936 SV% in five starts since the Islanders hired Patrick Roy. The 28-year-old netminder has played well vs. the Rangers throughout his career, going 3-2-0 with a 2.40 GAA, .936 SV% and one shutout in five meetings.

Ilya Sorokin
Barzal (maintenance) is considered day-to-day and did not practice Thursday after participating in the Islander's team picture.

Barzal has only missed one game this season, was given a maintenance day on Thursday, and did not participate in practice. Barzal leads the Islanders in scoring with 56 points (15G / 41A) in 52 games, the best point-per-game pace of his seven-year career (1.08 PTS / G).

Mathew Barzal
Vanecek (lower body) will remain out Thursday and will miss at least the next two games due to injury.

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws started and won both games in a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday and will start between the pipes again on Thursday.

Vitek Vanecek
Ilya Sorokin will start on Tuesday vs. Seattle.

Semyon Varlamov was in the crease in the Islanders' previous game and fell to 0-2-1 since Patrick Roy took over as coach, contrasting Sorokin's impressive 3-1-0 record in that span. Sorokin has played exceptionally in his last two outings, allowing four total goals and boasting a .929 SV%. The 28-year-old Sorokin will return to the crease on Tuesday in a favourable matchup against a low-scoring Seattle Kraken team (2.73 GF / GP) that was defeated 3-1 by the New Jersey Devils last night.

Ilya Sorokin
Sorokin was in the starter's crease at the Islanders' morning skate.

Semyon Varlamov was in the crease in the Islanders' previous game and fell to 0-2-1 since Patrick Roy took over as coach, contrasting Sorokin's impressive 3-1-0 record in that span. Sorokin has played exceptionally in his last two outings, allowing four total goals and boasting a .929 SV%. The 28-year-old Sorokin will likely return to the crease on Tuesday in a favourable matchup against a low-scoring Seattle Kraken team (2.73 GF / GP) that was defeated 3-1 by the New Jersey Devils last night.

Ilya Sorokin
Vanecek (illness/lower body) will be out on Monday after missing their morning skate earlier in the day.

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws will start between the pipes on Monday night for the Devils, who will likely recall Akira Schmid from the AHL to serve as part of the Devils' tandem while Vanecek is unable to play.

Vitek Vanecek
Sorokin will start against the Lightning on Thursday.

Sorokin will return to the crease on Thursday after a solid performance in his last outing. The talented netminder saved 35 of 37 shots (.946 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, only his second win in his last seven outings. The rested Islanders are -139 home favourites against a Tampa Bay Lighting club that played last night and was defeated 3-1 by the New York Rangers.

Ilya Sorokin
Vanecek will start against the Flames on Thursday.

Vanecek will start for the third straight game on Thursday night when the Devils host the Calgary Flames. Vanecek was terrific in his last outing, snapping a two-game losing skid by limiting the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche to only three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 5-3 victory. The Devils enter action as -137 home favourites despite the Flames carrying momentum from a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Vitek Vanecek
Cizikas (lower body) was activated from the Long-Term Injured Reserve and is expected back on Thursday.

Cizikas has been out of the lineup since January 9th due to a lower-body injury but will return to action on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old is producing at a similar rate to his previous seasons, with 11 points (5G/6A) in 39 games played before his injury.

Casey Cizikas