The New York Islanders turned their home opener into a statement night on Saturday, rolling past the New Jersey Devils for a 6-0 win at UBS after dropping their season opener.
The tone was set early even though the first-period goals never came. New York came out with more pressure, more purpose, and more chances than it had shown in its opener, and the pressure finally started to break through in the second period.
Simon Holmstrom opened the scoring with his first goal of the year, finishing a nice setup from Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Less than two minutes later, Brayden Schenn added another with help from his new linemate Victor Eklund and Matthew Schaefer.
The power play, which had shown some life in the first period, also cashed in during the second. In his first home game as captain, Bo Horvat scored his 100th goal as an Islander on the man advantage, with Schaefer picking up his second assist of the night.
Schaefer was all over the ice from the start, looking to shoot and create. That aggressive approach helped jump-start the offense and kept New York on the front foot.
The Islanders’ burst of offense would have been enough on its own, but Ilya Sorokin made sure the Devils never had a path back in. Through two periods, he posted a GSAx of 2.68, and with New Jersey getting three power plays in the first two frames, Sorokin and the penalty kill shut the door every time.
New York kept pouring it on in the third. Victor Eklund scored the first goal of his career on his 20th birthday, and shortly after that Ondrej Palat got his first of the season. With the line combinations shifted around, Casey Cizikas finished things off with a short-handed goal right before the final horn, the Islanders’ second short-handed goal in as many games.
It was a dominant response from New York, and the kind of night that made the coaching staff’s choices look right on the money. The Islanders now head into a Tuesday night matchup with the New York Rangers at MSG.
In Other News...
Islanders Bring Back A Beloved Home Opener Moment Fans Will Remember
The Islanders are set to open their home schedule with a familiar and heartwarming face in the spotlight. Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old World War II veteran and decorated Army staff sergeant, will return to UBS Arena to perform the national anthem before the game against the Devils, bringing back the kind of pregame moment that tends to linger with a crowd long after the puck drops.
Critelli already left a mark on Islanders fans once, when he played the anthem on his saxophone before a game last December and drew a memorable reaction inside the building. He still practices the instrument every day, and this latest appearance gives the home opener a personal touch that fits the kind of connection the Islanders have tried to build with their fans at Nassau Countys successor in Elmont. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Just Got An Emotional Reminder Of A Beloved Voice
Howie Rose has been part of New York sports for so long that his voice feels tied to the seasons themselves, and recent days brought one of those quiet reminders of just how much he has meant to the Islanders community. After recently calling the final Mets game of his broadcasting career, Rose is preparing to move with his wife to Florida on Monday, closing another major chapter in a New York run that stretched across generations of fans.
The Islanders recognized Rose for his long run behind the microphone, and several former and current players and colleagues took the chance to reflect on the way he covered the team and connected with people around it. For a fan base that grew up hearing him on television, the moment carried a familiar mix of gratitude and sadness, the kind that comes when a beloved voice is still very much present but about to become part of memory. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Season Could Hinge On Finally Fixing One Home Problem
Home ice was supposed to be a strength for the Islanders, but last season it too often looked like another problem area for a team that fell short of the playoffs. Captain Bo Horvat and coach Pete DeBoer have both pointed to improving the atmosphere and the offense at UBS Arena as priorities, with the new staff looking to reset a team that never quite built enough momentum in its own building.
A more threatening attack at home could be part of that fix, especially with Mathew Barzal expected to be back in the mix to help generate more chances. The Islanders know they need more than just a better feel in their own rink, though, and the real question is whether the changes around the roster and behind the bench can finally turn those home dates into a real advantage again. [Read more 🡒]