CIZIKAS IN VS PREDATORS
After missing Thursday’s game with an illness, Casey Cizikas is expected to return to the New York Islanders lineup on Saturday night against the Nashville Predators.
“Wasn’t feeling so great, but I feel like myself again, so that’s all matters,” Cizikas said.
Cizikas participated in the team’s morning skate on Saturday, skating on a line with Kyle MacLean and Marc Gatcomb. Max Shabanov is expected to come out of the lineup in a corresponding move. Cizikas has 14 points (6G, 8A) in 53 games this season and is third on the team with 108 hits. The veteran center is also averaging 1:23 SH TOI/GP this season.
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MORNING SKATE LINES:
Jonathan Drouin – Mathew Barzal – Anthony Duclair
Ondrej Palat – Bo Horvat – Emil Heineman
Anders Lee – JG Pageau – Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean – Casey Cizikas – Marc Gatcomb
Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech – Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy – Scott Mayfield
SOROKIN EXPECTED TO START
Ilya Sorokin is expected to start in goal for the Islanders on Saturday. Sorokin is coming off a 20-save performance in a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday. Sorokin has won two straight games and six of his last eight games since returning from a lower-body injury on Jan. 6. Sorokin is 1-3-1 lifetime against Nashville with a 3.32 GAA, an .877 SV% and a goal, which he scored the last time the Islanders hosted the Predators.
SCHAEFER’S LADDER CLIMB
Schaefer sniped home the game-winning goal from the top of the left circle to put the Islanders ahead 2-0 at the 18:53 mark of the second period on Thursday night. Schaefer has five goals this month and 14 on the season.
He took another step on the ladder as he passed Bobby Orr (13) for the second most goals by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history. Schaefer is three away from tying Phil Housley (17). The rookie defenseman is also three goals away from tying Denis Potvin (17) for the most by a rookie defenseman.
“You don’t really think about it that much,” Schaefer said. “But when … you hear those names, it’s an honor to be with those guys.”
Schaefer leads all rookie defensemen and ranks third among rookie skaters with 36 points (14G, 22A) this season. His four game-winners lead all rookies.
SOUCY STRIKES AGAINST FORMER TEAM
Soucy scored the game’s opening goal from a tight angle in the left circle to put the Isles in front 1-0 with 17:18 played in the middle period. It was his first goal as an Islander and came in his homecoming game at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s definitely weird at first,” Soucy said after Thursday’s win. “Once the game gets going, though, it’s kind of just hockey. Like I’ve kept saying, I want to help this team win, [it] doesn’t matter who it’s against.”
Soucy has one point (1G) in two games with the Islanders. He has recorded nine points (4G, 5A), 73 hits, 67 blocked shots and 14 takeaways in 48 games between the Rangers and Isles this season.
