Isles Day-to-Day: Mayfield and Shabanov Return

The New York Islanders took the ice on Sunday morning ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

SHABANOV RETURNS

Max Shabanov will make his return after an upper-body injury sidelined him for 12 games. Sunday marked his third consecutive skate with the team as he was recovering - he skated for the first time during Wednesday’s practice in Vegas wearing a red non-contact jersey, which he shed the next day for morning skate.

The Russian winger will play on a line with Casey Cizikas and Cal Ritchie. Shabanov has three points (1G, 2A) in six games for the Isles. Shabanov skated with the second power play unit on the right half wall in morning skate, which was his spot before his injury, which Head Coach Patrick Roy said that Shabanov sustained in the game against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 16 and played through until Oct. 21 against San Jose.

"The game against Ottawa, he was outstanding," Roy said. "He made some great plays. The two hits he took, he stayed in the game and played in the following game, realized he couldn't take it anymore. But I'm very impressed with him and I really look forward to see how he's going to play tonight."

As a result, Max Tsyplakov will be a healthy scratch, in addition to Kyle MacLean. Tysplakov has one goal through 12 games for the Isles.

MAYFIELD DRAWS BACK IN

Scott Mayfield rejoined the team for the road trip after missing two games for the birth of his first child with his wife Emily. Mayfield, who has three assists through 16 games this season, will play on a pair with Alexander Romanov.

“Everyone’s good,” Mayfield said. “It’s been a crazy week, it’s been fun.”

On the hockey side of things, Mayfield said he missed some exciting games - the Islanders got their second and third straight OT win when he was out - but he’s feeling good and ready to contribute.

Adam Boqvist will come out of the lineup as a result. Boqvist has four blocked shots and one hit through six games this season.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Emil Heineman - Bo Horvat - Kyle Palmieri

Jonathan Drouin - Mathew Barzal - Simon Holmstrom

Anders Lee - JG Pageau - Anthony Duclair

Casey Cizikas - Cal Ritchie - Max Shabanov

Matthew Schaefer - Ryan Pulock

Adam Pelech - Tony DeAngelo

Alexander Romanov - Scott Mayfield

Ilya Sorokin

RITCHIE AND DROUIN TO FACE FORMER TEAM

Cal Ritchie and Jonathan Drouin are in familiar territory - as the former Avalanche forwards will wear an Isles jersey for the first time against their former team.

Ritchie got his start with the Avs. The 20-year-old was drafted by Colorado 27th overall in 2023. He played seven games for the Avs before he was returned to his junior team, where he put up 70 points for the Oshawa Generals.

Drouin played for two seasons for the Avalanche before he signed the Isles over the offseason. The winger totaled 93 points (30G, 63A) and 31 power-play points over the course of two seasons with the Avalanche and he has 14 points (3G, 11A), including three power-play points - through his first 17 games as an Islander.