The Islanders return to UBS Arena on Saturday night with a chance to reset quickly, and they’ll do it on a stage built to honor military service. New York hosts the New Jersey Devils on Military Appreciation Night, coming off a 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and aiming to get back in the win column against another Metropolitan Division opponent.
The matchup brings a little extra weight for the Islanders, who have handled New Jersey well lately. Over the last ten meetings, New York is 8-1-1 and has won six straight against the Devils. That run gives the Islanders a real shot at closing the gap on a team that sits second in the Metropolitan Division at 11-5-0.
Military Appreciation Night will feature more than just hockey. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a special military-themed hat, while veterans and current service members will be recognized throughout the game. Outside UBS Arena, fans will also see military vehicles on display, along with special discounts and exclusive merchandise from the Isles Lab team store.
The organization’s support for the military stretches beyond Saturday night. Veterans in attendance are honored as the “Military Hero of the Game,” and the Ford Military Truck Tribute continues as a season-long program that ends with a veteran receiving a new food truck. The Islanders also hold Military Baby Showers, working with local companies to support newly expecting military families.
UBS Arena and the Islanders also run 50/50 raffles and ticket donations aimed at helping local families and nonprofit organizations. Along with Military Appreciation Night, the team will host other community-focused events during the season, including Hockey Fights Cancer Night and Islanders Children’s Foundation Night.
On the ice, New York is trying to stop a two-game skid before heading west for a three-game road trip that will take them to the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks. With a sold-out crowd expected against the Devils, the Islanders will be looking to clean up the mistakes from the Carolina loss and chase a seventh straight win over New Jersey.
In Other News...
Islanders Are Taking A Low-Risk Look At A Former First-Round Pick
The Islanders AHL pipeline is getting a closer look at a familiar name, with the Hamilton Hammers bringing in veteran forward Robby Fabbri on a professional tryout agreement. It is the kind of low-commitment move teams make this time of year, a chance to evaluate a player with NHL experience without locking themselves into anything long term, while also giving the affiliate another option to sort through in camp.
Fabbri is not the only forward getting an extended audition in Hamilton, either. The Hammers also added Antonio Stranges on a PTO after he spent last season with the Texas Stars, appearing in 70 games, and both moves give the Islanders organization a little more depth to monitor as the roster picture starts to settle. The real question now is whether either tryout turns into something more permanent once the team gets a better read on how they fit. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Are Running Out Of Time To Turn Good Play Into Points
The Islanders are at the point in the season where the process discussion starts to matter less than the points column. Fifteen games in, they have played well enough to stay in the mix, but a 7-6-2 start has left them fifth in the Metropolitan Division and needing a quicker return on the work they have put in so far.
Bo Horvat has already framed the issue plainly, and coach Pete DeBoer has been pushing the same message: good stretches have to turn into wins before the standings get away from them. Practice brought some tweaks to the lines and power play as the club looks for a spark, and with the Eastern Conference race already tightening, the Islanders do not have much time to keep leaving points on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Still Searching For The Right Lineup Before Devils Showdown
After a 5-3 loss to Carolina, the Islanders went back to work Tuesday with more lineup tinkering ahead of their meeting with New Jersey. Head coach Peter DeBoer mixed up the forward groups and defensive pairings during practice, a sign the club is still trying to settle on the right combinations as it looks to rebound quickly.
The changes included a look at Emil Heineman in a more prominent role and a new face on the blue line after Ben Hutton joined the mix on a PTO earlier this week. The injury picture also remains part of the equation, with Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Matias Maccelli skating in non-contact jerseys for the third straight day, leaving the Islanders with a few more questions than answers as the Devils game approaches. [Read more 🡒]