Islanders Game 78: Sorokin Out, Lennox Recalled; Final Dance with the Rangers

ELMONT, N.Y. — The New York Islanders host the New York Rangers tonight inside UBS Arena. Both teams are all but eliminated from the playoffs. The Rangers will be mathematically eliminated with a loss of any kind. In contrast, the Islanders, with a loss, would be eliminated if Montreal gains two points at any point during the rest of the year.

All this to say, it’s the first April meeting between these two clubs with neither in the playoffs since April 5, 2018. That game finished 2-1 in favor of the Islanders, with Thomas Hickey and Anthony Beauvillier scoring the goals for the Islanders.

Tonight, the Islanders start Marcus Hogberg after Ilya Sorokin suffered an injury on Tuesday. The team did not provide a timeline for a return. Tristan Lennox, a 2021 third-round pick has been recalled and will backup Hogberg. It’s a feel-good story for Lennox who missed almost two full seasons after suffering a major knee injury.

The rest of the lineup remains the same for the Islanders. As for the Rangers, Igor Shesterkin starts in the net while rookie Gabe Perreault remains a healthy scratch. Last night, the Rangers lost 8-5 to the Philadelphia Flyers.

New York Islanders Lines:

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Kyle Palmieri

Maxim Tsyplakov – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Simon Holmstrom

Pierre Engvall – Casey Cizikas – Hudson Fasching

Matt Martin – Kyle MacLean – Marc Gatcomb

Defense & Goalie

Alexander Romanov – Tony DeAngelo

Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock

Noah Dobson – Scott Mayfield

Marcus Hogberg

New York Rangers Projected Lines:

Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafreniere

Will Cuylle – J.T. Miller – Mike Zibanejad

Chris Kreider – Sam Carrick – Brett Berard

Brennan Othmann – Jonny Brodzinski – Matt Rempe

Defense & Goalie

Carson Soucy – Adam Fox

Zac Jones – Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen – Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin

How to Watch:

TV: MSG 2, MSGSN, ESPN+ Out of Market

Radio: 88.7 (FM) WRHU