Islanders Welcome Romanov, Holmstrom Back Against Sharks, Induct Brent Sutter Into Hall of Fame: Lines & Notes
The Islanders get two key pieces back.
ELMONT, NY — After two losses to start their homestand, the New York Islanders (17-20-7) face Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks (14-27-6) on Brent Sutter Night at UBS Arena.
Puck drop at UBS Arena is scheduled for closer to 8 PM, and the game can be found on MSGSN. The Sutter Induction Ceremony will take place at 7:30 PM.
Prior to the game, Sutter will be inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame. He will become the 16th player to be honored and the 18th inductee. In 12 seasons with the Islanders, he recorded 287 goals and 323 assists for 610 points in 694 games.
New York split their season series with San Jose last season, blowing a 4-1 lead in an overtime loss at UBS Arena on Dec. 5, 2023. The Islanders bounced back for a 7-2 drubbing of the Sharks at SAP Center on March 7.
LINEUP UPDATES:
Forward Maxim Tsyplakov was suspended for three games on Friday due to his high hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Poehling. Marc Gatcomb was recalled from AHL Bridgeport and will return to the lineup.
Simon Holmstrom is back in. The forward suffered an upper-body injury on Dec. 29 and has missed the last seven games.
Defenseman Alexander Romanov returns from a three-game absence due to an upper-body injury.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Lee-Nelson-Barzal
Duclair-Horvat-Palmieri
Holmstrom-Pageau-Cizikas
Engvall-MacLean-Gatcomb
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
George-Mayfield
Hogberg
Sorokin
Who’s Hot:
Sutter’s name could also be leapfrogged in the Islanders’ record books on Saturday.
Mathew Barzal is in a tie with Sutter for ninth all-time on the Islanders’ assist list with 323 helpers. Brock Nelson also enters Thursday’s game tied with him and Pat LaFontaine for fifth all-time in goals for the franchise with 287.
Ryan Pulock has points in three straight games against San Jose. The defenseman has two goals and an assist for three points in that span.
Noah Dobson has a four-game point streak against the Sharks entering play on Saturday. The defenseman has a goal and four assists in that span. Jean-Gabriel Pageau also has points in four straight games against San Jose, matching Dobson’s numbers.
Bo Horvat had a pair of points to help the Islanders’ power play break through on Thursday, tallying a goal and assist. He dominated the Sharks last season, tallying two goals and three assists in their two meetings last season.
Anders Lee is the Islanders’ leader in goals lifetime against the Sharks, owning 12 in 18 career matchups. Horvat, a former Vancouver Canuck, leads in the remaining offensive categories, tallying 19 assists and 30 points in 35 career games against San Jose.
Marcus Hogberg will return to the crease for the Islanders on Saturday. The netminder suffered a hard-luck loss against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, making 25 saves on 26 shots in a loss. Saturday marks his first career start against San Jose.
Opponents Notes:
Saturday’s game marks the first time the Islanders will face Celebrini, the first overall pick of last year’s NHL Draft. The forward is enjoying a strong rookie year, boasting 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points, in addition to four assists across a three-game point streak.
William Eklund was San Jose’s leading scorer against the Islanders last year. The forward had a goal and three assists for four points across their two meetings, including a goal and two assists in their December matchup.
Tyler Toffoli is the Sharks’ leader scorer in goals and points against New York. The former New Jersey Devil has eight goals and 16 points in 20 games against the Islanders. Alex Wennberg, a former Columbus Blue Jacket, leads the team in helpers against them with 10.
Alexandar Georgiev will start Saturday’s game for the Sharks. The netminder was acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for fellow goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and has assumed starting duties. He took the loss against the Blue Jackets with three goals against on 33 shots. In nine games against New York, he is 4-4-1 with a 2.55 GAA and .917 SV%, most recently making 16 saves in a win on Oct. 20, 2022.
San Jose Sharks Latest Lines:
NOTES: Toffoli is out with a lower-body injury. Graf plays for Toffoli. Smith is playing on the top line. Liljegren won’t play. Henry Thrun comes in.
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Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those that drive a BMW can receive complimentary single-game parking in the Emerald Parking lot.
Please click the BMW | Islanders image below for parking registration information,
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