SHABANOV OUT VS RED WINGS
Max Shabanov will not play on Thursday night and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, per Head Coach Patrick Roy.
The Russian winger had a maintenance day on Wednesday. He notched an assist in 10:15 TOI on Tuesday, but missed the second half of the third period. Shabanov has three points (1G, 2A) in his first six NHL games.
With Shabanov out, Simon Holmstrom took line rushes in his spot on Wednesday. Kyle MacLean is expected to draw into the Islanders lineup.
ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINEUP
Jonathan Drouin – Bo Horvat – Emil Heineman
Anthony Duclair – Mathew Barzal – Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean – Casey Cizikas – Max Tsyplakov
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Adam Boqvist – Tony DeAngelo
Matthew Schaefer – Scott Mayfield
David Rittich
Ilya Sorokin
RITTICH TO START
David Rittich will get his second start as an Islander against Detroit, per Head Coach Patrick Roy.
Rittich made 33 saves in his Isles debut, backstopping the Isles to a 4-2 win over Edmonton on Thursday. Rittich is 4-0-1 lifetime against Detroit, with a .926 SV% and a 1.68 GAA.
ROMANOV OUT VS RED WINGS
Alexander Romanov (day to day, upper body) is ruled out against Detroit and is also expected to miss Saturday’s game against Philadelphia. The team announced on Thursday morning that he was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 16.
The defenseman missed the last two games and was not on the ice for practice on Wednesday. Romanov recorded 12 blocked shots and 15 hits in four games this season, last in action on Thursday.
ON THE BRINK OF… EVEN MORE HISTORY
If Matthew Schaefer records an assist on Thursday, he’ll establish a new NHL record with the longest point streak to begin a career by a defenseman.
Schaefer is already the youngest defenseman in NHL history with a point in each of his first six games, the youngest defenseman to score a game-winning goal and the youngest defenseman with a multi-point game.
SEASON SERIES
The Islanders went 0-3-0 last season against Detroit. The season series wrapped early, as the teams have not met since Nov. 25, 2024.
