Overview

• Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders' star goaltender, is sidelined with a lower-body injury unrelated to his offseason back surgery, creating uncertainty about his return this season.
• Backup Marcus Hogberg has taken over in net but struggled in a 9-2 loss to the Rangers, allowing six goals before being briefly replaced by Tristan Lennox.
• The Islanders' defensive lapses and turnovers were glaring in the loss, contributing to their slim playoff hopes as they near elimination.
• Injuries to key players, including Mat Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Semyon Varlamov, have plagued the Islanders throughout the season, impacting their competitiveness.
• The team now faces the likelihood of missing the playoffs, with one more point gained by the Canadiens or lost by the Islanders sealing their elimination.