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New York Islanders News

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

Sorokin is coming off an impressive 42-save performance (.933 SV%) in the Islanders' 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday and will likely start again on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Despite a career-low GAA (3.09) and save percentage (.914) through 15 games, Sorokin has been better lately, allowing only 10 total goals in his last four games (2-1-1), posting a solid .935 SV%. The Islanders are -272 home favourites against the Sharks who, despite being the lowest-scoring team in the NHL (1.88 GF / GP), have scored nine goals over their last two games (1-1-0).

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov will start Thursday in Carolina.

Over the past month, Varlamov has started one of every three games for the Islanders, a trend that will continue on Thursday as Varalamov was in the starter's crease at the morning skate. Varlamov has a tremendous 2.30 GAA and .930 SV% through seven games this season, totals positively inflated from a strong start to the season. The 35-year-old goaltender hasn't been nearly as dominant in recent games, allowing three or more goals in four straight outings (1-2-1) and posting a .893 SV%. The Islanders are +179 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have won two straight and rank 12th in the league offensively (3.33 GF / GP).

Semyon Varlamov
Semyon Varlamov is in the starter's net at Thursday's morning skate.

Over the past month, Varlamov has started one of every three games for the Islanders, a trend that will likely continue on Thursday as Varalamov was in the starter's crease at the morning skate. Varlamov has a tremendous 2.30 GAA and .930 SV% through seven games this season, totals positively inflated from a strong start to the season. The 35-year-old goaltender hasn't been nearly as dominant in recent games, allowing three or more goals in four straight outings (1-2-1) and posting a .893 SV%. The Islanders are +179 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have won two straight and rank 12th in the league offensively (3.33 GF / GP).

Semyon Varlamov
Martin (upper-body) is not on the ice for warmups and is not expected to play in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Matt Martin has not played since November 15th and was a game-time decision on Tuesday after being activated from the injured reserve. In 14 games this season, Martin had two points (1G / 1A) and 31 hits while averaging 8:27 time-on-ice., the lowest total of his career since averaging 7:59 in the 2017-18 season.

Matt Martin
Vanecek will start against the Islanders on Tuesday.

Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and will be the Devils' starter once again on Tuesday. The four-year NHL pro has never had a sub.-908 SV% or above 2.69 GAA to end a season but is currently sporting an ugly .884 SV% and 3.32 GAA. Vanecek has only five quality starts in 13 games, a trend that shows no signs of reversing. That said, he continues to be the Devils' go-to option between the pipes and could be in for a better-than-usual performance as the Devils are -156 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.55 GF / GP).

Vitek Vanecek
Sorokin will start in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Sorokin is coming off a rare shutout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, in which he saved all 40 shots he faced. In his last five games (2-1-2), Sorokin has saved 176 of 189 shots (.931 SV%) and seems to be trending toward the Vezina-caliber form he has displayed over the last several seasons. Sorokin will need to be at his finest on Tuesday as the Islanders are +140 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team coming off a dominant 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

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

Sorokin is coming off a rare shutout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, in which he saved all 40 shots he faced. In his last five games (2-1-2), Sorokin has saved 176 of 189 shots (.931 SV%) and seems to be trending toward the Vezina-caliber form he has displayed over the last several seasons. Sorokin will need to be at his finest on Tuesday as the Islanders are +140 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team coming off a dominant 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Ilya Sorokin
Vitek Vanecek was the first goalie off the ice at the Devils' morning skate.

Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and appears to be the Devils' starter once again on Tuesday. The four-year NHL pro has never had a sub.-908 SV% or above 2.69 GAA to end a season but is currently sporting an ugly .884 SV% and 3.32 GAA. Vanecek has only five quality starts in 13 games, a trend that shows no signs of reversing. That said, he continues to be the Devils' go-to option between the pipes and could be in for a better-than-usual performance as the Devils are -156 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.55 GF / GP).

Vitek Vanecek
Matt Martin (upper body) has been activated from the injured reserve and is a game-time decision vs. the New York Islanders.

Matt Martin has not played since November 15th and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday after being activated from the injured reserve. In 14 games this season, Martin had two points (1G / 1A) and 31 hits while averaging 8:27 time-on-ice., the lowest total of his career since averaging 7:59 in the 2017-18 season.

Matt Martin
Sorokin will start Saturday's game against the Flyers.

Sorokin will return to the Islanders' crease after backup Semyon Varlamov got the nod for Friday's game in Ottawa. Sorokin is coming off one of his best starts of the season, denying 34 of the 36 shots he faced in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Flyers. The 28-year-old netminder owns a 5-3-4 record on the year to go along with his .909 SV% and 3.21 GAA.

Ilya Sorokin
Vanecek will start Saturday against the Sabres.

Vanecek allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Devils' loss in Detroit on Wednesday. Vanecek has struggled in his last five outings, going 1-3-0 with an .860 SV%. Tonight he'll face the Sabres, as -166 home favourites. Buffalo come in ranking 24th in the NHL in GF/60 (2.83).

Vitek Vanecek
Matt Martin (upper body) has been placed on the injured reserve.

Martin has missed the Islanders' previous four games due to an upper-body injury and was placed on the injured reserve Saturday. The 34-year-old bruising winger had been enjoying a slow start to his 2023-24 season, with a goal, as assist, 11 SOG, and seven PIMs in 14 games played prior to the injury.

Matt Martin
The Islanders have placed Adam Pelech (upper-body) on LTIR.

Pelech suffered an upper-body injury on Friday and was placed on LTIR on Saturday. The move means that Pelech will miss 10 games/24 days and opens up $5.75M in cap-space for them to make some call-ups to replace Pelech and maybe Sebastian Aho, who was also injured on Friday.

Adam Pelech