The Islanders finally got their first road win of the season in Toronto, but the 4-1 result came with a heavy price tag.
New York was forced to grind through most of the night with just 10 forwards after losing Cal Ritchie and Matias Maccelli in the first period. Even with the lineup taking damage early, the Islanders held together, got goals from Anthony Duclair, Bo Horvat, and Simon Holmstrom, and walked out of Toronto with a win over the Maple Leafs in their second visit there this season.
Duclair set the tone with the opening goal in the first period, continuing what has been a strong start to his season. Horvat followed in the second with his fifth goal in eight games to push the lead to two.
Toronto made things uncomfortable in the third when Colton Scissons brought the Leafs within one, but Holmstrom answered at the right moment as the Islanders were under pressure, restoring the two-goal cushion. Holmstrom later added an empty-netter to finish it off.
The night belonged to Ilya Sorokin as much as anyone else. He was outstanding again in net and kept the Leafs from turning the game into something far messier, while his season numbers moved to a 1.81 GAA and .934 SV%.
The bigger concern, though, is what comes next for Ritchie and Maccelli. Ritchie appeared to injure his leg after a routine collision against the boards and had to skate gingerly to the bench. Maccelli’s leg got caught under his body when he went down, which made his situation look potentially more serious.
If both players are down for any length of time, the Islanders may have to reach deeper into the roster. Kyle MacLean could make his first appearance of the season, and the team may also need its first call-up from the Hamilton Hammers. If either player is placed on IR, Cole Eiserman could get his first NHL call-up, with Pierre Engvall or Liam Foudy also candidates to be recalled.
The injuries only add to a rough early stretch for New York. Mat Barzal still has not played this season, and Alexander Romanov is already out for the year.
In Other News...
Islanders Finally Get A Real Read On Quinn Finley
Quinn Finley finally got a real game to show the Islanders what he can do, making his American Hockey League debut with Hamilton after a long road back from shoulder surgery. It was his first taste of pro action in a meaningful setting, and he made it count right away by picking up his first AHL point on an assist in his return to play.
For Finley, the outing was as much about getting back into the flow as it was about the box score. He said he was satisfied to be back on the ice, and Hamilton coach Jay McKee came away impressed with the speed, hockey IQ and shot that had made Finley such an intriguing player in the first place. For a prospect the Islanders have had to monitor carefully, the next step is simply getting more of those looks. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Already Know Who Can Help Romanov Through This Brutal Rehab
Alexander Romanovs season is on hold after the Islanders defenseman suffered an ACL tear in his right knee in the third game of the year, a setback that will require surgery and keep him out for a long stretch. For a player whose game leans on mobility and edge work, it is the kind of injury that turns every step of the recovery process into its own test, and the Islanders already know that the next several months will be about more than just waiting for him to get healthy.
Kyle Palmieri has become a familiar voice in that process. The forward has been down this road himself after an ACL injury, and he has been helping Romanov navigate the grind of rehab while drawing on the support he once received from Anders Lee during his own comeback. For a locker room that has seen what this kind of injury demands, that shared experience could matter just as much as the surgery and the timetable ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Are Running Out Of Time To Solve Their Biggest Problem
The Islanders have spent much of the early season trying to solve the same problem from different angles: the defense has generally held up, but the goals have not followed. With the attack stuck in neutral, Pete DeBoer has started shuffling the forward group in search of something closer to balanced scoring across four lines, a process that has touched several regulars and forced the lineup to keep changing as the team looks for a spark.
Kyle Palmieris role has been altered while he continues to work his way back from a knee injury, and that is part of the reason the Isles have not yet found a stable combination. Simon Holmstrom and Matias Maccelli have also seen their usage adjusted as the club tries to cover for the absence of Mathew Barzal, leaving the next few games to answer whether these tweaks are a temporary patch or the beginning of a more lasting fix. [Read more 🡒]