The Islanders come out of their four-day break with a tough assignment waiting on the other side: the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
New York had time to rest and reset after getting shut out 4-0 by the Edmonton Oilers in its final game before the pause, but the break also brought a little life back to practice. Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Matias Maccelli all skated, though they were wearing red non-contact jerseys. Even with the limited participation, there was a noticeable buzz around the group as it prepared for a demanding return to action.
For the Islanders, the spotlight now falls on Victor Eklund. The rookie has been trending up with each game, and his style has already caught the attention of head coach Peter DeBoer.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Eklund doesn’t play like a player trying to avoid contact. He hunts pucks, pressures hard and is willing to get involved physically, which makes him a natural fit for a matchup like this one.
“He [Eklund] has been the one guy I think (has) probably been the biggest surprise to me because of his size,” DeBoer said, via Shannon Bickert of NHL.com. “How consistently he goes into those spaces, into those one-on-one battles, and comes out with pucks or wins the pinch and advances the puck, and that's what you have to do against a team like Carolina.
His game's built for that tomorrow night. I think we got to make sure the rest of our group is ready to do that too.”
Eklund has backed up that reputation with production in the physical game, leading the team with 39 hits in 14 games. With injuries already thinning out the roster early in the season, that kind of edge has made him a key piece for New York.
Still, the Islanders know this won’t be decided by forechecking alone. Carolina arrives allowing just 2.29 goals per game, second-best in the NHL behind only the Minnesota Wild at 2.24. New York has been strong defensively too, giving up 2.71 goals per game, which ranks fifth.
That sets up what should be a tight, detail-heavy game, where chances are likely to be scarce and execution will matter in every zone. Against a team as disciplined and complete as Carolina, getting to the dangerous areas won’t come easy. That’s why Eklund’s role looms so large: his energy, pressure and willingness to battle could help the Islanders create the openings they need.
As his offensive game keeps developing, DeBoer appears increasingly comfortable using Eklund in any situation, trusting the rookie because he plays the kind of hockey that helps teams win.
In Other News...
Islanders Still Waiting On Mathew Barzal For One Frustrating Reason
Mathew Barzal is back on the ice with the Islanders, but only in a limited way for now. He has been skating in a non-contact jersey during practice as he works through inflammation in his left knee, and coach Pete DeBoer confirmed he is still not cleared for contact. Teammates have sounded encouraged by the sight of him moving again, especially after Barzals left kneecap injury in February 2025 led to surgery and wiped out the rest of that season.
The frustrating part for the Islanders is the lack of any real timetable. Barzal played most of last season after returning from that injury, but this latest knee issue has kept him from a full return to NHL games, and the team is still waiting for a clearer answer on when that changes. For a club that leans on his speed and creativity, the progress is welcome, but it does not yet solve the bigger question hanging over his availability. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Finally Have Some Hope As Key Reinforcements Near
The Islanders are finally getting a little bit of encouraging injury news, and for a team that has spent the early part of the season waiting for help, that matters. The latest update brought some movement on the returns of Mathew Barzal, Mattias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock, three players whose absences have left noticeable holes in the lineup and forced the club to keep patching things together while trying to stay afloat.
Barzals situation remains the one everyone is watching most closely, since his knee injury has kept him out entirely so far this season. Even with that lingering uncertainty, the fact that the Islanders can point to progress on multiple fronts gives them something they have not had much of lately: a real sense that reinforcements are getting closer, even if the final steps still have to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Still Have One Power Play Problem They Must Finally Solve
The Islanders power play has been a recurring issue for a while now, and the frustration around it is starting to sound familiar. Pete DeBoer and players such as Brayden Schenn have both pointed to the same basic fix: move the puck faster and finish more of the chances that are there. Until that happens, special teams will keep hanging over a group that has not been able to turn enough good looks into goals.
Help could be on the way, at least in pieces. Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock have all been skating in non-contact drills, and each would give the unit a different boost once healthy. Barzals creativity, Maccellis playmaking touch and Pulocks point presence are all the kind of ingredients this group has lacked at times, but the Islanders still have to show they can put those pieces together when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]