New York Islanders News

Reilly avoided being stretchered off, but had to he helped off the ice after being hit by Jordan Greenway. The Islanders did not have a post-game update on his status but the defenseman will travel to New York with the team and be re-evaluated. Expect Dennis Cholowski to replace him in the lineup on Sunday.

The Islanders have been very liberal in alternating goalies this season despite Sorokin seemingly returning to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been terrific to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting a dazzling 1.80 GAA and .932 SV%, but only has a 2-2-1 record to show for it. The Islanders rank worst in the league offensively, averaging only 2.2 goals per game, and enter the action on Friday as slight -104 road underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres.

Romanov has missed three straight games due to an upper-body injury but is likely to make his return on Friday, replacing Dennis Cholowski. The 24-year-old Romanov has two points (0G / 2A), 19 blocks, and 14 hits in eight games this season.

With Mathew Barzal (upper-body) away from the team to get evaluated, Engvall will slide back into the Islanders lineup on Friday. The 28-year-old Engvall is averaging 10:27 time-on-ice and has four penalty minutes in two games this season.

Oliver Wahlstrom will draw into the Islanders' lineup on Friday, sending Martin back to the press box as a healthy scratch. Matt Martin has only played two games this season, averaging 9:34 time-on-ice, but has been his usual bruting self, racking up five hits.

Alexander Romanov (upper-body) will make his return from a three-game absence on Friday, sending Cholowski to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Cholowski was thrust into the lineup due to Romanov's injury and recording one point (1G / 0A) in three games.

Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Wahlstrom to re-enter the lineup. At morning skate on Friday, Wahlstrom was skating on a line with Pierre Engvall and Casey Cizikas. The 24-year-old Wahlstrom is averaging 9:39 time-on-ice through six games this season and has zero points.

The Islanders have been very liberal in alternating goalies this season despite Sorokin seemingly returning to the form that made him a Vezina-trophy runner-up in the 2022-23 season. The 29-year-old Sorokin has been terrific to start the 2024-25 campaign, posting a dazzling 1.80 GAA and .932 SV%, but only has a 2-2-1 record to show for it. The Islanders rank worst in the league offensively, averaging only 2.2 goals per game, and enter the action on Friday as slight -104 road underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres.

Barzal played 22:46 time-on-ice in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, showing no signs of impairment, but is away from the team as he gets evaluated for an upper-body injury back in New York. After a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring 80 points (23G / 57A) in 80 games, Barzal has started the 2024-25 campaign slowly, with only five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games. At the Islanders' morning skate on Friday, Jean-Gabriel Pageau was in Barzal's usual spot, flanking Bo Horvat.

After playing two straight games, Engvall will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, replaced in the lineup by Matt Martin. The 28-year-old Engvall is averaging 10:27 time-on-ice and has four penalty minutes in two games this season.