The New York Islanders face a critical week as they navigate a challenging schedule and manage key player statuses. Here's a breakdown of the week ahead:

Sorokin on IR, Rittich Steps Up

The biggest immediate concern is the absence of star goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin was placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 20th due to a lower-body injury initially described as a "nagging issue". This move guarantees he'll be out for at least a week, but he is eligible to return as early as Sunday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Whether he will be ready to play remains uncertain. In a corresponding move, Marcus Hogberg was recalled from AHL Bridgeport on an emergency basis.

In Sorokin's absence, veteran David Rittich has stepped up, providing the Islanders with steady goaltending. Rittich, who signed a one-year contract with the Islanders on July 1, 2025, is 4-0-0 lifetime against the Rangers, allowing just three total goals across those four appearances. Rittich is now 4-0-0 lifetime against the Rangers, having allowed just three total goals across those four appearances. His career numbers in the matchup — a 0.75 goals-against average and a .975 save percentage — are the best of any goalie who has faced the Rangers multiple times. He is coming off a stellar performance against the New York Rangers, blanking them 2-0 on Saturday night and earning his ninth career shutout. Rittich made 27 saves, including a breakaway and a penalty shot, to secure the win. His recent performance may give the coaching staff a difficult decision if Sorokin is ready to return: continue with the hot hand in Rittich, or turn back to Sorokin.

Horvat's Return

In a major boost to the Islanders' offense, Bo Horvat returned to the lineup on December 27th against the Rangers after missing five games with a lower-body injury. Before the injury, Horvat was leading the team with 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 32 games. In his absence, the Islanders struggled to score, underscoring his importance to the team's attack. Horvat resumed his spot on the top line alongside Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman and is also expected to resume his roles on the power play and penalty kill.

Coach Patrick Roy acknowledged the difficulty of making lineup decisions with Horvat's return, as Anthony Duclair is expected to be a healthy scratch despite playing well recently.

Lee Chasing 300

Captain Anders Lee is on the cusp of a significant milestone. With his goal against the Rangers, Lee now has 299 career goals. He is just one goal away from becoming the fifth player in Islanders history to reach 300 goals. Lee's recent strong play has been crucial with Horvat out, and the team will continue to rely on his offensive production.

The Week Ahead

The Islanders face a week of crucial games as they navigate a tight Metropolitan Division race. Their schedule includes:

• December 28: Away against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• January 1: Home against the Utah Mammoth.
• January 3: Home against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Every game is critical for securing points in the competitive division. The Islanders currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 21-13-4.

With Sorokin's injury, Rittich's strong play, and Horvat's return, the Islanders have several key storylines to follow as they push through a vital stretch of games.