Brief Islanders Pregame Notes 9/24 vs NYR: Duclair to Debut?

NEW YORK — The New York Islanders take on the New York Rangers tonight at 7 o’clock in Madison Square Garden. It’s the second preseason contest of the year for the Islanders, who come off a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Who’s Playing?

Tuesday’s team featured the new-look second line, with Simon Holmstrom flanking Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. Tonight, Anthony Duclair just might make his quasi-Islanders debut alongside Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal.

Horvat met with the media pregame, and the assumption is he will be joined by his linemates in the lineup tonight.

It’ll be the trio’s first time skating together in a game scenario. Semyon Varlamov is expected to start for the Islanders, while Igor Shesterkin will tend the Rangers twine.

The Rangers’ projected lineup is NHL-heavy. Their top six from last year are almost all expected to skate, along with Matt Rempe, who will surely provide a physical presence. Before his fame, Rempe threw a dirty hit on Isaiah George last year.

New Islanders Fourth Line:

Elsewhere for the Islanders, Casey Cizikas will play, with the guess being alongside Hudson Fasching and Matt Martin. Cizikas skated with both in the days leading up to tonight’s game, and both are competing for a job on Cizikas’ wings for October.

If those two do, in fact, play tonight, Martin has a lot to prove tonight, with his PTO still being the only thing keeping him tied to the Islanders. It’s a huge game for Fasching and Martin, as both desperately need to prove they belong in the opening lineup.

Cizikas also talked about how it’s weird to skate without Cal Clutterbuck and how his presence is missed around camp, highlighting how the business goes.