Islanders Pregame: Closing Out Road Trip Out vs. Red Wings
Simon Holmstrom is expected to return to the lineup. Ilya Sorokin starts.
After an emotional win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, the New York Islanders (11-7-2) wrap up their seven-game road trip against the Detroit Red Wings (12-7-1).
Puck drop from Little Caesars Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN2.
The Should-Be Olympian No One Is Talking About
When the Noah Dobson deal officially came through, the two first-round picks coming to Long Island were the standouts. Bottom-six forward Emil Heineman, who had already been traded twice before in his young career, was looked at as a throw-in, initially.
New York earned a 7-2 win in their first meeting with Detroit on Oct. 23. Six different players lit the lamp in the win for the Islanders, including Emil Heineman with a pair of goals. Anders Lee had three helpers in the victory.
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
Ilya Sorokin (6-5-2, 2.91 GAA, .898 SV%) will start Thursday for New York. He took the loss against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, allowing three goals on 27 shots.
Alexander Romanov was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering an upper-body injury on Tuesday night. Marshall Warren was recalled from AHL Bridgeport. Adam Boqvist will play in Romanov’s place.
Lines:
Heineman-Horvat-Palmieri
Drouin-Barzal-Holmstrom
Lee-Pageau-Duclair
Cizikas-Ritchie-Shabanov
Schaefer-Pulock
Pelech-DeAngelo
Boqvist-Mayfield
Sorokin
Rittich
ISLANDERS NOTES
Emil Heineman enters Thursday riding a four-game point streak, notching three goals and an assist over that stretch. He has points in all three meetings with Detroit this season, posting four goals and an assist.
Jonathan Drouin has a three-game point streak vs. Detroit, totaling one goal and four assists in those matchups.
Anders Lee leads all Islanders in career production against Detroit with 13 goals and 28 points in 31 games.
Mathew Barzal leads New York in career assists vs. the Red Wings with 21 in 18 games.
Ilya Sorokin is 4-4-2 with a 2.47 GAA and .911 SV% in his career against Detroit. His most recent outing vs. the Red Wings came on Nov. 21, when he allowed two goals on 31 shots in a loss at Little Caesars Arena.
RED WINGS NOTES
Detroit enters Thursday’s matchup following a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, powered by a three-goal second period and a game-winner from rookie Emmitt Finnie.
Lucas Raymond carries a five-game point streak, registering two goals and eight assists for 10 points.
Dylan Larkin has a five-game point streak of his own, with four goals and two assists. He has points in three straight games vs. the Islanders (2G, 1A).
Moritz Seider (1G, 4A) and Alex DeBrincat (5G, 3A) each bring four-game point streaks into Thursday’s matchup.
Patrick Kane, who missed the last meeting, leads Detroit in career goals vs. the Islanders with 14.
James van Riemsdyk holds the most career assists and points against New York among active Red Wings, with 28 assists and 41 points.
John Gibson (4-5-1, 3.31 GAA, .875 SV%) will start for Detroit. He took an overtime loss to Buffalo in his last outing. Against the Islanders, Gibson is 4-4-1 with a 3.31 GAA and .899 SV%, most recently allowing four goals on 35 shots on Dec. 13, 2023 while with Anaheim.
What a structure and offensive flair. This team is enjoyable and real. Patty has them playing well. Romanov injury is the only negative.