The New York Islanders are finally at the starting line, and the opening stretch comes with no shortage of early questions.
Their season begins Wednesday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, the first stop in a four-game run over the first eight days of the NHL schedule. There are no back-to-backs in that span, but there are two Metropolitan Division matchups waiting right away, including the home opener against the New Jersey Devils and a visit to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. After that, the Chicago Blackhawks come to UBS Arena next Thursday to kick off a three-game homestand.
Peter DeBoer has settled on his opening-night group, but the lineup is already dealing with some moving parts. Ilya Sorokin is expected to carry a heavy load, though it remains to be seen whether DeBoer will use him for all four games. Semyon Varlamov, described as a medical miracle, made the roster and will back him up.
Mathew Barzal will not be available against Toronto, though he could return for the home opener. Realistically, the expectation is that Barzal first appears against the Rangers.
There’s been plenty of outside chatter about the Islanders after a quiet offseason and a roster that includes aging veterans, but that hasn’t erased what happened last year. The team was in a playoff spot heading through the trade deadline, and that matters in the larger picture.
That said, a fast start isn’t the only path forward. The Islanders could begin a little slowly and still find their footing by the holiday season.
DeBoer’s system will need time to settle in, and so will the players, especially the younger group. Victor Eklund will be adjusting to NHL life, while Logan Stanley gets comfortable in a new home.
Even second-year players Calum Ritchie and Matthew Schaefer are expected to need time as they settle in.
In Other News...
Islanders Fans Are Getting New Game Day Perks At UBS Arena
The Islanders are giving UBS Arena and the surrounding Belmont Park campus a noticeable refresh for the 2026-27 season, layering in a new round of fan experiences and amenities around game nights. The club says the additions will touch several corners of the game-day visit, from new food and beverage options to exclusive spaces for American Express Card members, along with expanded group and premium offerings and a rotating mix of local restaurants and concession items throughout the building.
There is also a bigger play here beyond the arena walls, with the team folding more of Belmont Park into the game-day experience for ticket holders. The intent is to make a night at an Islanders game feel less like a single stop and more like a full campus visit, with one of the more interesting new perks tied to the racetrack side of the property and still set to become part of the routine for fans next season. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Already Face An Early Concern After Opening Night Loss
The Islanders opened the season with a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, and the box score already hinted at a familiar sort of frustration. New York came up empty on four power-play chances, killed three of four penalties and still found a way to stay in the game thanks in part to Ilya Sorokin, who made 24 saves and kept the margin tight long enough for the Islanders to have a shot late.
Emil Heinemans shorthanded goal gave New York one of the nights brighter moments, but the bigger concern from opening night was less about one missed opportunity than about the broader way the game was played around Sorokin. Peter DeBoer flagged the need for better support in front of his goalie, and after one game the Islanders are already staring at a problem that can snowball quickly if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Loss Exposed One Problem They Need To Clean Up Fast
The Islanders opened the 2026-27 season with a loss in Toronto, and the result came with a clear reminder that early-season details can decide games fast. New York generated chances, but the Maple Leafs got the steadier night in goal and enough timely offense to leave the Islanders looking for answers after one game.
Special teams already stood out as a concern, especially with Toronto handling every penalty chance it faced. For a team trying to settle in and build some momentum, cleaning up those situations has to be a priority before a small issue starts to feel like a familiar one. [Read more 🡒]