The New York Islanders look for their fourth straight win as they face the Detroit Red Wings tonight at UBS Arena. David Rittich was first off the ice during practice this morning and will get the start between the pipes. Rittich, in his Islanders debut, made 31 saves in a 4-2 win a week ago against the Edmonton Oilers. Rittich is 4-0-1 lifetime against Detroit, with a .926 SV% and a 1.68 GAA. The Islanders went 0-3-0 last season against Detroit.
Schaefer Streaking
If Matthew Schaefer records a point tonight, he’ll establish a new NHL record with the longest point streak to begin a career by a defenseman. He is currently tied with Marek Zidlicky, who started his career in 2003-04
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.
The defenseman is one-game shy of Alexander Daigle’s expansion era record (7) to start a career at 18 or younger. He also joins Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky as players with six-game streaks. Not bad company.
Schaefer can tie the Islanders record tonight with Bob Bourne, who had points in seven-straight games to begin his career back in 1974.
Shabanov Out
Max Shabanov will not play tonight 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 on Tuesday, but missed the second half of the third period. Shabanov has three points (1G, 2A) to start his NHL career.
With Shabanov out, Simon Holmstrom took line rushes in his spot in Wednesday’s practice. 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
Max Tsyplakov – Casey Cizikas – Kyle MacLean
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Adam Boqvist – Tony DeAngelo
Matthew Schaefer – Scott Mayfield
David Rittich
Ilya Sorokin
Roster Moves
Alexander Romanov (upper body) is ruled out against Detroit and is also expected to miss Saturday’s game against Philadelphia. The team announced this morning that he was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 16. He is considered day-to-day.
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, he last played a week ago. The Russian missed 16 games last season.
The team, with two available roster spots, recalled forward Matthew Highmore and defenseman Marshall Warren. The Laurel Hollow native was the AHL Player of The Week to start the season and has two goals, three assists in four games for the Bridgeport Islanders. Warren opened a bunch of eyes during training camp. He will not play tonight. When he does take the ice he will become the fourth Long Island native to suit up for the Islanders. (Richie Hansen – Northport, Chris Ferraro – Port Jefferson, Kyle Palmieri – Smithtown)
Highmore has bounced around the NHL, having played for Chicago, St. Louis, Vancouver and Ottawa. The 29-year-old has four assists in four games for Bridgeport.
Marc Gatcomb cleared waivers today and was returned to Bridgeport. Gatcomb played in one game for the Islanders this season.
