The New York Islanders take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena tonight. Here are the projected/expected lineups sourced from NHL.com staff writers, independent correspondents, and others.
ISLANDERS (21-13-4) at BLUE JACKETS (15-15-6)
5 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MSGSN
Islanders projected lineup
Jonathan Drouin — Bo Horvat– Emil Heineman
Anders Lee — Mathew Barzal — Simon Holmstrom
Maxim Shabanov — Calum Ritchie — Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Kyle MacLean — Casey Cizikas — Marc Gatcomb
Matthew Schaefer — Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech — Tony DeAngelo
Marshall Warren — Scott Mayfield
David Rittich
Marcus Hogberg
Scratched: Maxim Tsyplakov, Anthony Duclair, Adam Boqvist
Injured: Ilya Sorokin (lower body), Kyle Palmieri (ACL), Alexander Romanov (upper body), Semyon Varlamov (knee), Ethan Bear (upper body)
Status report
Rittich will start again after he made 27 saves in a 2-0 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Latest for THW:
- NHL Morning Recap – December 28, 2025
- Projected Lineups for Rangers vs Islanders – 12/27/25
- Islanders’ Prospect Pipeline on Full Display at World Juniors
Blue Jackets projected lineup
Mason Marchment — Adam Fantilli — Kirill Marchenko
Dimitri Voronkov — Sean Monahan — Kent Johnson
Boone Jenner — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier
Miles Wood — Brendan Gaunce — Cole Sillinger
Ivan Provorov — Dante Fabbro
Denton Mateychuk — Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen — Brendan Smith
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratched: Zach Aston-Reese, Yegor Chinakhov
Injured: Zach Werenski (lower body), Erik Gudbranson (hip), Isac Lundestrom (lower body)
Status report
Olivier will return from an upper-body injury; he missed 13 games since Nov. 24. … Werenski, a defenseman, will miss his second straight game after taking a puck to his right skate at the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 20. … Lundestrom, a forward, was injured during practice on Saturday.
Latest for THW:
- Blue Jackets Resume Play Looking to Make This Season Matter
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- Blue Jackets Prospect Report: Midseason College Check In
