With New York's 82nd game meaning little, the Islanders have recalled Liam Foudy from Bridgeport (AHL) on Tuesday ahead of their game vs. Carolina. The 26-year-old is with his third NHL franchise of his career and has yet to appear with New York this season. He excelled in Bridgeport (AHL) this season, with 25 goals and 46 points in 58 games played.
Eklund is one of the Islanders' most coveted prospects and has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) on Tuesday with expectations to make his NHL debut vs. Carolina. Eklund was the Hurricanes' 2025 1st round pick (16th overall) and he's excelled since making his trip across the pond to join Bridgeport last month, with two goals and nine points in his first 7 games played.
Varlamov has missed the entire 2025-26 campaign due to a knee injury but had some encouraging news on Tuesday as the 37-year-old veteran was loaned to Bridgeport (AHL) on an LTIR conditioning assignment. The Russian netminder appeared in 10 games as Ilya Sorokin's backup in 2024-25, with a 3-4-3 record, 2.89 GAA and .889 SV%.
MacLean did not play in the last two games, but he will replace Max Shabanov (upper-body) in the lineup on Saturday. MacLean has served exclusively as a fourth liner this season and has just seven points (2G / 5A) in 57 games.
Sorokin gave up three goals on 16 shots in the Islanders 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Sorokin, who has now given up three-plus goals in five straight games, posting a 4.59 GAA and .848 SV% in the process. With a pivotal back-to-back this weekend, new head coach Pete DeBoer hinted at Sorokin starting both games.
DeAngelo has not played in over two weeks due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old DeAngelo has 33 points (5G / 28A) in 72 games this season.
The Islanders, amid a four-game losing streak, have not played since Saturday. Currently on the outside of the playoff picture with only four games remaining, the team will need near-perfection from Sorokin if they have any intention of making the postseason. The 30-year-old Sorokin has been one of the most reliable goalies in the NHL this season, leading the way with seven shutouts, but has picked an inopportune time to be struggling. In his last four games (0-4-0), Sorokin has an ugly 5.01 GAA and .852 SV%. The Islanders, in their first game with new head coach Pete DeBoer, enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -261 home favourites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that lost 4-0 to the Washington Capitals last night.
DeAngelo has not played in over two weeks due to a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old DeAngelo has 33 points (5G / 28A) in 72 games this season.
Holmstom did not play in the Islanders' previous game, but he could return to the lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 24-year-old Swedish forward is averaging 15:03 time-on-ice and has 39 points (19G / 20A) in 73 games this season.
Sorokin leads the NHL with seven shutouts and has been one of the league's best goalies this season, but he has picked an importune time for consecutive poor outings as his team battles to secure a playoff spot. The 30-year-old Sorokin has lost two straight (0-2-0) while allowing 10 goals on 61 combined shots (.836 SV%). The Islanders enter Friday's contest as -136 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that lost 4-2 last night to the Detroit Red Wings.
Injuries to Scott Sabourin (undisclosed) and Brandon Hagel (undisclosed) will allow Michael Chaffee and Oliver Bjorkstrand to re-enter Tampa Bay's lineup. The 28-year-old Chaffee has not play an NHL game since late October. He has zero points in seven games this season.
