The New York Islanders are staring at a game that can say a lot about them on Nov. 5.
A win over the Carolina Hurricanes would not just add two points. It would go a long way toward giving the Islanders’ season some real credibility. New York enters at 7-5-2 with 16 points, sitting in the middle of the Metropolitan Division, while Carolina arrives alone atop the standings at 12-3-2 with 26 points.
That backdrop only sharpens the challenge. The Hurricanes come in as the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and both teams have built their identities on defense. The Islanders have allowed just 2.71 goals per game, the fifth-best mark in the NHL, while Carolina has paired its stingy structure with a league-best plus-24 goal differential.
Head coach Peter DeBoer said the key against Carolina is surviving the pressure and making clean decisions under it.
“I think when you're playing Carolina, you have to understand you're going to get heavy pressure, and you have to execute under pressure, and that's not just the defensemen; it's everybody,” DeBoer said per Shannon Bickert. “They make you play a game where you have to win multiple one-on-one confrontations in order to advance the puck to the next spot, and in order to create a scoring chance, so I think if you get your head around that going into the game, it gives you a chance.”
The Hurricanes’ style shows up everywhere. They’ve already piled up 361 hits, and they bring a heavy, aggressive game in all three zones.
The Islanders are expected to turn to Semyon Varlamov for his fifth start of the season. He enters at 1-1-2 with a 2.40 GAA.
Wednesday’s practice offered a look at the lines. Simon Holmström skated with Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri, while Emil Heineman lined up with Brayden Schenn and Victor Eklund. Ondřej Palát centered JG Pageau and Anthony Duclair, and Kyle MacLean worked with Casey Cizikas and Mitchell Chaffee.
On defense, Logan Stanley paired with Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech skated alongside Tony DeAngelo, and Matt Kessel was with Scott Mayfield.
The extras were Ben Hutton, Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Matias Maccelli. Hutton is on a PTO, while Barzal, Pulock and Maccelli all skated in red, non-contact uniforms.
Eklund is one of the names to watch in this matchup. He enters the game with a team-high 39 hits in 14 games, which fits the tone of a night against a physical Carolina team.
Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 21 points, coming from nine goals and 12 assists.
The Islanders are trying to bounce back after a 4-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 1.
Carolina had its four-game winning streak snapped by the Nashville Predators on Nov. 3.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. CT at UBS Arena.
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 🡒]