Coach Patrick Roy said he will give backup goalie David Rittich his first start as an Islander against the Oilers. Ilya Sorokin, who is 0-3-0 with a bloated 4.18 goals-against average and sub-standard .854 save percentage, will return to the net on Saturday in Ottawa.

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders take on the Edmonton Oilers after losing three games in a row. New York went 35-35-12 overall and 19-17-5 in home games a season ago. The Islanders scored 222 total goals last season (2.7 per game on 29.4 shots per game).

It’s true that Holmstrom has never eagerly shot the puck the way the Islanders want him to, but the last time he went three games in a row without getting a single puck on net was last December. One of the key points of his development last season was shooting the puck more often.

The New York Islanders (0-2-0) look for their first victory when they host the Winnipeg Jets (1-1-0) at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York

Stuart Skinner, who authored a shutout Tuesday, and Calvin Pickard have combined to stop 44 of 45 shots in two games since the Oilers squandered a three-goal lead in a season-opening 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Oct. 8.

The New York Islanders have sent forward prospect Calum Ritchie to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old was rather impressive during training camp and the preseason, but due to a lack of an opening in the top nine, especially at the center position, it was unlikely that he'd make the team.

Meet the latest Isles pup, a future service dog for a veteran or first responder with disabilities, whose name will be voted on by Isles fans