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New York Islanders News

Sorokin (lower-body) has been activated from IR and will back up on Saturday vs. Toronto.

Sorokin has not played since December 19th due to a lower-body injury. He will serve as David Rittich's backup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but could return to the crease on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Sorokin has a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games this season (12-10-2).

Ilya Sorokin
Rittich will start vs. Toronto on Saturday.

Ilya Sorokin (lower body) has been activated from Injured Reserve, but he will serve as Rittich's backup on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 33-year-old Rittich has been solid this season, but is coming off a forgetful outing, allowing five goals on 14 shots (.643 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has a 2.46 GAA and .909 SV% in 17 games this season (10-5-2).

David Rittich
Horvat (lower-body) will be out at least a week and will be re-evaluated next week.

Horvat just recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury and will return to the sidelines. The injury is not expected to affect the 30-year-old's availability for the Olympics, meaning he should be back, at the latest, before the end of the month. Horvat has 33 points (21G 12A) in 36 games this season.

Bo Horvat
Warren has been returned on loan to Bridgeport (AHL).

Warren's first exposure to the NHL was successful, scoring three assists in his first eight games, but he will return to a familiar place in the AHL. The 24-year-old Warren was a sixth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the majority of the previous three seasons in the AHL.

Marshall Warren
Gatcomb will be a healthy scratch vs. Utah on Thursday.

The Islanders will make some changes to their forward group on Thursday, with Maxim Tsyplakov and Kyle MacLean drawing into the lineup in place of Anthony Duclair and Marc Gatcomb. The 26-year-old Gatcomb is averaging 10:12 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 14 games this season.

Marc Gatcomb
Duclair will be a healthy scratch vs. Utah on Thursday.

The Islanders will make some changes to their forward group on Thursday, with Maxim Tsyplakov and Kyle MacLean drawing into the lineup in place of Anthony Duclair and Marc Gatcomb. Duclair averaged 44.1 points per season across the first decade of his career, but has failed to maintain that pace since joining the Islanders, producing at a concerning 23.7 points per season over the last two seasons.

Anthony Duclair
MacLean will draw back into the Islanders' lineup vs. Utah on Thursday.

The Islanders will make some changes to their forward group on Thursday, with Maxim Tsyplakov and Kyle MacLean drawing into the lineup for Anthony Duclair and Marc Gatcomb. The 26-year-old MacLean is averaging 10:40 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 25 games this season.

Kyle MacLean
Tsyplakov will draw back into New York's lineup vs. Utah on Thursday.

The Islanders will make some changes to their forward group on Thursday, with Maxim Tsyplakov and Kyle MacLean drawing into the lineup for Anthony Duclair and Marc Gatcomb. The 27-year-old Tsyplakov's second-year struggles in the NHL continue, with only one point (1G / 0A) in 21 games. He had 35 points (10G / 25A) last year in his rookie season.

Maxim Tsyplakov
Rittich will start vs. Utah on Thursday.

Ilya Sorokin (lower body) is not ready to return yet, but his absence has not been an issue for the Islanders, as Rittich continues his strong 2025-26 campaign. The 33-year-old Czech goalie has a stellar 2.27 GAA and .918 SV% in 16 games (10-4-2). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as slight +108 home underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that has lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).

David Rittich
Rittich will start in Chicago on Tuesday.

Ilya Sorokin (lower body) remains out of the lineup, but the Islanders have received adequate goaltending from Rittich in his absence, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Rittich has an excellent 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games this season (9-4-2). The 33-year-old Czech goalie has been outstanding lately, posting a 1.65 GAA and .949 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Islanders enter Tuesday's action as -133 road favorites against a Blackhawks team coming off a 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

David Rittich
Rittich is in the starter's crease at New York's morning skate.

Ilya Sorokin (lower body) remains out of the lineup, but the Islanders have received adequate goaltending from Rittich in his absence, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Rittich has an excellent 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games this season (9-4-2). The 33-year-old Czech goalie has been outstanding lately, posting a 1.65 GAA and .949 SV% in his last five games (3-1-1). The Islanders enter Tuesday's action as -133 road favorites against a Blackhawks team coming off a 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

David Rittich
Bear has cleared waivers and been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL).

Bear has not played yet this season due to a wrist injury and will get his start in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders after clearing waivers. The 28-year-old defenseman spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 46 points (10G / 36A) in 62 games with the Hershey Bears.

Ethan Bear
Rittich will start vs. Columbus on Sunday.

With Ilya Sorokin (lower body) still on Injured Reserve, the Islanders will turn to Rittich in back-to-back games. The 33-year-old Rittich was excellent in yesterday's 2-0 win over the New York Rangers, saving all 27 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. He has a solid 2.25 GAA and .919 SV% in 14 games (9-3-2).

David Rittich