Adam Pelech is expected to make his return to the lineup for the Islanders on Tuesday, making Bolduc a healthy scratch. Bolduc has played each of the last 18 games for the Islanders, registering three points (1G / 2A) while averaging 14:50 time-on-ice.
With Martin Necas (upper-body) and Stefan Noesen (illness) both unavailable on Friday, DeAngelo will get the opportunity to play for the first time since December 17th as the Hurricanes are forced into dressing seven defensemen against the Capitals. DeAngelo has two goals and seven assists in 20 games this season.
Pelech has been out since November 24th but is nearing a return to the Islanders' lineup as he is now day-to-day with a possibility to dress Saturday vs. Vegas. The 29-year-old's presence has been a big miss from the Islanders' lineup as he had three assists, 17 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.
Boqvist has missed the last 13 games due to a shoulder injury, last playing on December 5th. Boqvist had three points (0G / 3A), averaging 17:05 time-on-ice through 13 games this season and will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.
Varlamov left Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche late in the first period due to an injury with the score being 1-1. He was replaced by Ilya Sorokin, who will likely start every game while Varlamov is unavailable. He will not dress on Thursday but is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Fasching will get the short end of the straw on Thursday, being healthy scratched to allow Matt Martin to draw back into the lineup for the Islanders. Fasching has played 15 straight games for the Islanders, finding ways to add sporadic offensive contribution through limited minutes (12:01 ATOI), scoring four points (1G / 3A).
Hudson Fasching will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Martin to play for only the third time since November 16th. In his last two games, Martin averaged over 10 minutes per night, recorded a five-minute fighting major, fired four shots on goal, and four hits.
With Semyon Varlamov sidelined, the Islanders will rely on Sorokin even more than before as he will start for the fifth time in the last six games. Sorokin entered Tuesday's contest in relief of an injured Varlamov, allowing four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) in an eventual 5-4 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Sorokin had a light night in his last meeting against the Arizona Coyotes, saving all 14 shots he faced for a shutout victory. On Thursday, the Islanders are slight -108 road favourites against the Coyotes, who are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Boqvist has missed the last 12 games due to a shoulder injury, last playing on December 5th. Boqvist had three points (0G / 3A), averaging 17:05 time-on-ice through 13 games this season and appears to have a return projected imminently.
Varlamov left the game late in the first period due to an undisclosed injury with the score being 1-1. He was replaced by Ilya Sorokin. We should expect to receive an update on Varlamov's injury and a possible timeline for his return following the completion of Tuesday's game.
Pierre Engvall's return to the lineup on Tuesday will result in Martin being a healthy scratch. In his last two games, Martin averaged over 10 minutes per night, recorded a five-minute fighting major, fired four shots on goal, and four hits.
Varlamov has not started a game since December 20th due in part to dealing with an undisclosed injury but will return to the crease on Tuesday against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche. Varlamov has been serviceable in limited action against his former team, posting a 3.07 GAA and .918 SV% in four games (2-2-0). That said, he has been average between the pipes lately, posting a .897 SV% in his last four outings (1-1-1). The Islanders are +163 road underdogs on Tuesday.
Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Engvall to return to the lineup after not playing in the last contest for the Islanders. Engvall is expected to play on the second line with Kyle Palmieri and a red-hot Brock Nelson. Engvall, however, has been ineffective offensively lately, scoring zero points in his last 10 games after scoring 11 (4G / 7A) in his previous 18.
