Sorokin Returns To Crease, Islanders Host Flyers In First Meeting Of Season: Lines & Notes
Sorokin had missed the last two games due to illness.
ELMONT, NY — After a flat start to their seven-game homestand, the New York Islanders (17-19-7) face the Philadelphia Flyers (19-20-6) for the first time this season
Puck drop at UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders went 2-0-1 against the Flyers last season. New York defeated Philadelphia 3-2 at UBS Arena the night before Thanksgiving, but the Flyers earned a 1-0 shootout win four days later. The teams last met on April 1, where the Islanders earned a 4-3 win in overtime.
LINEUP UPDATES:
Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau will draw back into the lineup after missing the last game due to illness. Marc Gatcomb was sent back to AHL Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Defenseman Alexander Romanov will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury.
Forward Simon Holmstrom (upper body) did skate this morning but isn’t ready to return just yet. He was in a non-contact sweater.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Lee-Nelson-Barzal
Tsyplakov-Horvat-Palmieri
Duclair-Cizikas-Cizikas
Martin-MacLean-Engvall
George-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
Cholowski-Mayfield
Sorokin
Hogberg
Who’s Hot:
Mathew Barzal is in a tie with Brent Sutter for ninth all-time on the Islanders’ assist list with 323 helpers.
Brock Nelson also enters Thursday’s game on milestone watch, as he sits tied with Sutter and Pat LaFontaine for fifth all-time in goals for the franchise with 287. Nelson averaged a goal per game against the Flyers last season, scoring twice in their first meeting and the overtime winner the last time they met.
Nelson is tied with Kyle Palmieri for the most career goals against Philadelphia with 13. Barzal has 19 assists and 28 against the Flyers’ lifetime to lead the team in the remaining offensive categories.
Ilya Sorokin will return to the crease for the Islanders on Thursday. He last started against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, making 30 saves in a shutout victory. Against the Flyers in his career, he is 9-2-2 with a 1.50 GAA and .949 SV%, most recently earning a 40-save shutout despite a shootout loss on Nov. 25, 2023.
Opponents Notes:
Morgan Frost enters play on a four-game point streak for the Flyers. The center has three goals and two assists for five points in that span. Jamie Drysdale has points in three straight coming into Thursday’s game, recording a goal and three assists.
Travis Konecny is Philadelphia’s leader in offensive production across the board, tallying 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points in 45 games. However, Matvei Michkov has had a strong rookie season, sitting a close second in each department with 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points.
Sean Couturier leads the Flyers across the board in scoring against New York, tallying 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 45 career games. However, he’s been quiet against the Islanders as of late, only recording one assist in his last 10 games against them.
Sam Ersson is probable to get the start for the Flyers on Thursday. The third-year netminder last started on Jan. 13 against the Florida Panthers, making 20 saves on 23 shots in a winning effort. Against the Islanders, he is 1-0-0 with a 1.41 GAA and .935 SV%, getting pulled in the first period with two goals on six shots in their last meeting. He earned a shutout win against them in his first career game against New York, making 25 saves in a shootout victory.
Philadelphia Flyers Latest Lines:
NOTES: Ersson will start. Farabee comes back in for Lycksell.
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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,