After a grueling two-week, seven-game stretch that took the Islanders across the continent, the NHL’s longest road trip of the season - and the longest of many players’ careers - is finally in the rearview. The team spent Thursday flying back to Long Island, returning with a 3-3-1 record and plenty to unpack.
Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Kraken wasn’t the sendoff they were hoping for. Disjointed, flat, and outplayed on special teams, the Islanders closed the trip with a thud.
Still, as captain Anders Lee put it, “Had a couple of games on this trip we would have liked to have. Beat a couple of really good hockey teams.”
He’s not wrong. There were flashes of the team’s potential - a gutsy 4-3 overtime win in Minnesota that saw the Isles claw back from three separate one-goal deficits, and a defensive gem in Edmonton where they shut down Connor McDavid and snapped his 20-game point streak in a 1-0 win. But those highs were offset by losses to non-playoff teams like the Jets and Flames, and a power-play unit that continues to sputter.
Let’s break down three key storylines from the trip:
1. Anthony Duclair’s stick switch is paying off - big time
Sometimes, a change in gear can feel like flipping a switch. That’s exactly what happened for Anthony Duclair.
Before the Islanders faced the Devils on Jan. 6, Duclair had been a healthy scratch in two straight games and three of five.
Searching for a spark, he borrowed a stick from Casey Cizikas. The result?
A natural hat trick and five-point night in a 9-0 demolition of New Jersey - and he hasn’t looked back.
Duclair finished the road trip with eight goals in eight games, including a power-play tally against Seattle and a two-goal effort in Vancouver. He’s playing with confidence, shooting with purpose, and finally looking like the offensive threat the Islanders hoped for when they signed him to a four-year, $14 million deal.
“I made the switch and I think that’s why it’s going in,” Duclair said. “It’s a totally different stick, totally different model, curve, everything. I put my stick in the garbage and I’m using Cizikas’ now.”
It’s not the first time an Islander has turned things around with a stick change. Cizikas himself admitted he once borrowed a stick from former teammate Brock Nelson to mix things up. “Sometimes you just want to kind of feel something different,” he said.
Whatever the reason, Duclair’s resurgence has been a bright spot - and a much-needed one - for a team trying to find consistency.
2. Reinforcements could be on the way
Help might be arriving just in time for a critical stretch before the Olympic break.
Top-line center Bo Horvat, who’s missed nine games with a lower-body injury, stayed back on Long Island during the trip to rehab and skate. If he’s able to practice Friday, there’s a real chance he suits up for Saturday’s matinee against the Sabres.
Getting Horvat back would be a major boost. He leads the team in goals and brings a stabilizing presence to both the top line and the power play - two areas that could use a jolt.
General manager Mathieu Darche has said he expects Horvat to return “way before” the Olympic break. With eight games left before the league pauses, the clock is ticking - but the signs are encouraging.
On the blue line, the Islanders may be looking to shake things up as well. Rookie Isaiah George could be called up from Bridgeport to pair with Scott Mayfield on the third defensive unit. Adam Boqvist held that spot for the last six games but saw his ice time drop significantly, logging just 10:25 in Seattle.
With Alexander Romanov out for the season due to a right shoulder injury, the Isles have been rotating through options. Marshall Warren, Travis Mitchell, and Cole McWard have all been recalled in recent weeks, but the coaching staff may be eyeing a more stable solution. George, a promising young defenseman, might get his shot soon.
3. The power play continues to drag
If there’s one area that continues to hold this team back, it’s the power play.
The Islanders went just 3-for-19 on the man advantage during the trip - a 15.8% clip that mirrors their season-long struggles. They currently sit 28th in the NHL, converting just 15.9% of their opportunities.
Wednesday night was a particularly painful example. Seattle came into the game with the league’s worst penalty kill, but the Islanders went just 1-for-7. Poor zone entries, slow puck movement, and a reluctance to shoot all added up to another missed opportunity.
“They did a good job putting pressure on us,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “We had a bit of a hard time getting the puck in. We need to move the puck faster, make quicker decisions and move it up and throw more pucks at the net.”
It’s a familiar refrain - and one that’s becoming increasingly urgent. With the playoff race tightening and the Olympic break looming, the Islanders need to find answers on special teams. Whether that’s a tactical shift, a personnel change, or simply a return to fundamentals, something has to give.
The road trip offered a little bit of everything - resilience, frustration, breakout performances, and lingering concerns. Now back home, the Islanders have a chance to reset and regroup.
With Horvat’s return on the horizon and Duclair heating up, there’s reason for optimism. But if they want to make a serious push in the second half, the power play can’t keep being a liability.