The Islanders are heading to California looking for a reset, and they may not be doing it empty-handed.
Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock all traveled with the team for the West Coast swing, giving the Islanders at least a chance that reinforcements could arrive during a trip that starts Monday night against the Sharks at SAP Center. That matters now more than ever. New York is coming off a frustrating 0-2-1 homestand, capped by Saturday night’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Devils at UBS Arena, when a two-goal third-period lead slipped away.
The skid has put the Islanders in a rough spot. They’ve dropped three straight for the first time this season and haven’t won in regulation since Oct. 20, a stretch of 2-3-2.
For a group that believes it can get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2024 and win a round for the first time since 2021, the timing is uncomfortable. Monday begins a stretch of five road games in six outings, and November is starting to look like a month that could shape the season.
Still, there’s a reason for some confidence on this trip: the Islanders have gone 5-2-1 against Western Conference teams.
The biggest storyline is the health of the roster. Barzal, Maccelli and Pulock all made the trip, and Barzal and Maccelli had already shed their non-contact practice jerseys for Saturday’s optional morning skate, though there were no contact drills.
That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does suggest they’re getting closer. Barzal has been out since the opening of training camp.
Maccelli was expected to miss two to four weeks after getting hurt on Oct. 17.
Pulock’s timetable was also two to four weeks after his injury on Oct. 29.
The schedule itself offers some opportunity, though not a free pass. The Sharks have lost five straight, even with young talent like Macklin Celebrini.
The Kings, whom the Islanders face Thursday night, sit seventh in the Pacific Division. The trip ends Saturday against the Ducks, who have won four in a row.
None of the three opponents were in a playoff spot on Sunday. New York already beat Anaheim 3-2 on Oct. 20, then lost 3-2 in overtime to the Kings at UBS Arena two days later after falling behind 2-0 in the first period on goals by ex-Ranger Artemi Panarin.
Special teams remain a problem area. The Devils went 1-for-4 on the power play in Saturday’s loss, and the Oilers were 1-for-6 in a 4-0 win that opened the homestand.
Even when the penalty kill holds, it drains energy and limits what the Islanders can do at five-on-five. With Pulock out, the burden has fallen heavily on Logan Stanley, Adam Pelech and Matt Kessel.
Scott Mayfield, who has been effective on the penalty kill, was a healthy scratch against the Devils. Coach Pete DeBoer also does not want to lean on Matthew Schaefer there, especially with the 19-year-old already averaging a team-high 26:48 of ice time.
“The penalties didn’t help,” DeBoer said after Saturday’s loss. “That fatigues you.
It’s also momentum. You’re on your heels, which kind of bleeds into your five-on-five game.”
The Islanders have mostly protected leads well this season, losing only once after scoring first, but there have been a couple of late-game reminders that nothing is safe. They were tied with the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes until 14:52 of the third period before losing 5-3 on Thursday. Earlier, they carried a three-goal lead in Nashville on Oct. 27 before needing overtime to escape with a 4-3 win.
“We got a point in overtime which is good,” Schaefer said after Saturday’s loss. “But we should have had both points. We should have found a way.”
Schaefer continues to be one of the bright spots. He has five goals and 11 assists in 16 games, and he added to that total against the Devils with a goal that came after he drove down low like a forward and buried his own rebound. His confidence with the puck keeps growing after a rookie season that ended with a unanimous Calder Trophy win.
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