NY Islanders close out 2025 schedule with a trip to Chicago against Blackhawks

The New York Islanders will look to close out 2025 on a positive note when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night at the United Center.

The Islanders are coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, a game that slipped away after they carried a 2-1 lead into the third period. Max Shabanov and Bo Horvat scored for New York, while David Rittich made 31 saves, but Columbus struck three times in the final 20 minutes to hand the Islanders their second loss in three games.

The Isles are expected to lean again on Horvat, who continues to drive the Islanders’ offense. The veteran center scored his 20th goal of the season Sunday, marking the 10th time in his career he has reached the 20-goal plateau. Horvat leads the Islanders with 32 points and has been particularly effective against Chicago, recording 22 points in 24 career games against the Blackhawks.

Captain Anders Lee enters Tuesday’s matchup on the brink of a milestone. His goal against the Rangers on Saturday was the 299th of his career, leaving him one shy of becoming just the fifth player in franchise history to reach 300 goals. Simon Holmstrom, who also scored in that rivalry win, is one goal away from 50 for his career and has found success against Chicago in recent seasons.

The Islanders may also receive a boost in goal depending on the status of Ilya Sorokin, who skated Monday while recovering from a lower-body issue. Sorokin has missed four straight games but remains day-to-day and is eligible to be activated off of Injured Reserve. Mathew Barzal, who was fined but not suspended following his ejection in Columbus, will be back on the ice in his familiar role as center of the Islanders’ second line.

Chicago enters the game reeling after a 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh and has dropped seven of its last eight games. With Connor Bedard expected to remain sidelined, the Islanders will look to take advantage as they open a short road trip and aim to finish the calendar year with a win.