The Islanders are about to find out a lot about themselves, and the timing couldn’t be clearer.
After grinding through a brutal two-and-a-half-week run against six playoff teams in four different cities, New York is now staring at a stretch that could swing its season. The Islanders went 2-3-1 through that gauntlet, with the most frustrating misses coming against Carolina and New Jersey, where they had real chances to steal wins but settled for just one point from those two games.
That opening stretch was no joke. The Islanders hit the road for Dallas, Nashville, and Minnesota, then came home to face Edmonton, Carolina, and New Jersey at UBS Arena.
The Stars opened the run, and while they were one of the tougher opponents in the group, they weren’t the toughest. That distinction belongs to Nashville, which is now 8-4-5 and sitting in the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Now the calendar turns in the Islanders’ favor, at least on paper. They’re set for 10 games in 19 days beginning Monday in California against the San Jose Sharks, and every opponent in that span is different. The only repeat division matchups are against Columbus on 11/17 and Philadelphia on 11/28.
The first three stops are all on the road: San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. That Ducks team has been one of the most dangerous power-play units in the league and currently sits third in the Pacific Division, even if its 5-on-5 play hasn’t been especially strong.
A clean 3-0-0 trip would give the Islanders a real boost before they come home to face the Blue Jackets on the 17th. From there, the schedule keeps moving - a two-game trip to Winnipeg and Detroit, then Thanksgiving week at home against Toronto and St.
Louis, followed by a Black Friday matchup with the Jets. The month closes on the road against Philadelphia.
By the end of November, the Islanders will have played 26 of their 84 games, which is 30 percent of the season. That’s enough of a sample to start getting a real feel for what this team is.
There’s also a chance the lineup gets a lift in California. Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli, and Ryan Pulock may all return during the trip.
For now, New York sits four points behind the Rangers for third in the Metropolitan Division and four points ahead of the Flyers, who are in last place in the conference. The path is right there for the Islanders to climb. The next 10 games may tell the story of where this season is headed.
In Other News...
Matthew Schaefer Just Got A Contract Warning Islanders Fans Can't Ignore
Matthew Schaefers early NHL rise has already put him in the same conversation as some of the leagues most promising young stars, and Macklin Celebrini is the latest reminder of how quickly that market can move. The Islanders defenseman and the Sharks captain have crossed paths in limited head-to-head action, but their connection runs deeper than a few games, with both having worn Team Canada colors and spent time in the spotlight as franchise cornerstones before either had fully settled into an NHL routine.
Celebrinis recent extension only sharpens the focus on what comes next for Schaefer and the Islanders. For a player still building his resume, every strong stretch matters, because the numbers and the role are already pointing toward a major negotiation down the line. The bigger question now is how New York frames that next deal, and how much leverage Schaefers growing profile gives him when the time comes to turn promise into a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]
Barzal's Islanders Return Suddenly Feels Closer Than It Did
Mat Barzal is back around the Islanders again, and that alone is enough to make this California trip feel a little different. He joined the team on the road after being out recently because of inflammation connected to a previous knee injury, a sign that the club is at least moving closer to getting one of its most important players back in the mix.
The Islanders also brought Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock along on the trip while they deal with injuries, so this is not a clean bill of health by any stretch. Still, Barzals presence on the trip is the kind of encouraging development that can change the tone around a team, especially when it has spent so much time waiting for key pieces to return and for the lineup to look like itself again. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Get Encouraging Timing On Three Crucial Returns
The Islanders are heading into a three-game West Coast trip with a little more optimism than they had a few days ago. Mathew Barzal and Matias Maccelli were both spotted in red non-contact jerseys, but the fact that they have been taking part in line rush drills is a meaningful step for a team trying to piece together its lineup on the fly.
Ryan Pulocks situation looks encouraging too, with the defenseman now in a regular practice uniform after previously being limited to a non-contact jersey. He also traveled with the team, which gives the Islanders another sign that help could be on the way as the trip unfolds, even if the exact timing of any return still remains to be seen. [Read more 🡒]