Game Preview: Islanders at Golden Knights
PROJECTED LINEUP
Emil Heineman – Bo Horvat – Kyle Palmieri
Jonathan Drouin – Mathew Barzal – Simon Holmstrom
Anders Lee – JG Pageau – Anthony Duclair
Casey Cizikas – Cal Ritchie – Max Tsyplakov
Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech – Tony DeAngelo
Alexander Romanov – Adam Boqvist
Ilya Sorokin
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
The Islanders recalled defenseman Travis Mitchell from the Bridgeport Islanders on Thursday morning.
The recall comes as a result of Scott Mayfield flying back to New York for the birth of his first child. Head Coach Patrick Roy said the plan is for Mayfield to re-join the team in Colorado when the Islanders take on the Avalanche on Sunday.
Mitchell did not skate with the team and will not play against Vegas. Roy said that he got a scouting report on Mitchell on Thursday morning where Bridgeport Head Coach Rocky Thompson gave a solid assessment.
“Rocky said that [Mitchell] is their best defenseman right now,” Roy said. “He deserves to be here, we’re happy for him.”
Mitchell, 25, has three assists through 12 games with Bridgeport this season. The 6’4” 203 lbs. blueliner recorded 13 points (4G, 9A) through 65 games last season and racked up 101 penalty minutes. He is in his fourth season in Bridgeport after playing four years at Cornell University.
BOQVIST IN VS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Adam Boqvist will draw in for the first time since Oct. 30 and play with Alexander Romanov. Boqvist recorded four blocked shot and one hit through four games played this season.
“We know of how good of a skater he is and how well he can move that puck,” Roy said. “We want to see him be a good partner with Romanov and play well defensively.”
SHABANOV JOINS PRACTICE
Max Shabanov (upper body) is taking positive steps toward returning. He joined Islanders for practice in Las Vegas on Wednesday in a red non-contact jersey. Although he won’t play on Thursday, he shed the non-contact jersey for morning skate.
Wednesday marked Shabanov’s first time skating with the team since Oct. 21 in the Islanders’ 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. The Russian winger has three points (1G, 2A) in six games for the Isles.
SOROKIN’S FOUR-GAME POINT STREAK
Ilya Sorokin will get the start against the Golden Knights. Sorokin is 3-2-1 lifetime against the Golden Knights along with a .939 SV% and a 1.96 GAA with two shutouts. He was in net for both wins last season, making 63 of 64 saves.
Sorokin is 3-0-1 in his last four starts with all three wins on the road. He turned aside 112 of 118 shots faced over that span (.949 SV%). His personal point streak began with the Islander’s 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals on October. 31.
“Since the Washington game, you can tell he’s playing with a lot of confidence out there,” Roy said. “He’s on top of the crease, he looks big. I think that’s what you need on the road, solid goaltending.”