The New York Islanders didn’t finish their homestand the way they wanted, dropping a 5-4 overtime decision to the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena. Still, the result at least left them with a point as they moved on from a tough night and turned their attention to the road.
Now sitting at 7-6-3, the Islanders are heading out for a three-game trip that opens against the San Jose Sharks, and there’s real reason for optimism in the middle of it. According to the team’s official account on X, forwards Mathew Barzal and Matias Maccelli, along with defenseman Ryan Pulock, are all traveling with the club to California.
That doesn’t guarantee any of them will dress right away, but it’s a strong sign that help is getting closer. All three have been practicing lately in red non-contact uniforms, and simply being on the trip suggests a return could be coming sooner rather than later.
If none of the three gets into the lineup against the Sharks on Nov. 9, the Islanders will still have a few days before their next game on Nov. 12 against the Los Angeles Kings. There should be at least one practice in that stretch, and the road swing wraps up Nov. 14 against the Anaheim Ducks.
Barzal is the biggest name in the group, and his return would give New York an immediate jolt. There was plenty of buzz at practice last week when he joined teammates for the first time, a clear step forward after missing the start of the season.
When he does make his season debut, it will be his first action of the 2026-27 campaign. Last season, he led the Islanders with 72 points, and getting him back would give the offense another gear, especially alongside star defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Maccelli has already shown what he can add. He’s played in just eight games this season after getting hurt on Oct. 17 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he still has six points, including two goals and four assists. Even with the missed time, he’s tied for seventh on the team in assists, which says plenty about the impact he’s made already.
Pulock’s situation has also moved in the right direction. He was injured on Oct. 29 against the Minnesota Wild and was originally given a 2- to 4-week timetable, so being on the trip means he’s ahead of schedule.
When those players are ready to return, head coach Peter DeBoer will have some lineup decisions to make.
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 Have A Real Opening To Climb The Metro Fast
The Islanders just came through a six-game run against playoff teams and came out of it at 2-3-1, which is hardly a disaster in a division race that still feels tight. More importantly, they did enough to keep themselves in striking distance, and the next few weeks could tell a lot about whether they can turn that into a real climb in the Metropolitan standings.
What makes the upcoming schedule so intriguing is the volume and variety, with 10 games in 19 days against a different set of opponents and only a limited number of chances to directly chip away at divisional rivals. For a team that has already shown it can hang in tough stretches, the timing matters, especially if some of the roster pieces that have been out can start filtering back in and give the Islanders a little more punch when the race tightens. [Read more 🡒]