The New York Islanders’ early-season injury list has opened the door for Victor Eklund, and the rookie is making the most of it.
With Mathew Barzal still out after missing the first 10 games with a knee ailment and Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli now sidelined as well, the Islanders need production from elsewhere. Eklund has stepped into that space and, game by game, has started to look more comfortable in it.
His latest outing came in a loss to the Los Angeles Kings, but it still reinforced how much trust he’s earning from the coaching staff. Eklund scored in the second period, burying a power-play goal for the first time in his career with assists from Emil Heineman and defenseman Tony DeAngelo. It was his third goal of the season, and he’s now scored in consecutive games after also finding the net against the Anaheim Ducks in a 3-2 win, when Heineman picked up an assist on that tally too.
The chemistry with Heineman has been a real bright spot. On the second line, with Brayden Schenn shifting to center, Eklund has started to find his places on the ice more naturally. He’s still making rookie mistakes - the kind you expect from a 20-year-old learning the NHL game - but the overall trend is clear: his confidence is climbing.
Against the Kings, he logged three shots on goal and posted the second-best expected Goals For on the team at 1.03. His xGoal Share of 95.2% trailed only Heineman’s 95.4%, with Schenn close behind at 94.7%. That second line is humming right now.
Eklund also did the less glamorous work that coaches notice. He finished with a single-game career-high six hits, and he’s now had multiple hits in seven of his 10 games this season.
That effort earned him 17:44 of ice time, third-most among Islanders forwards behind only Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom. For Eklund, it was easily the biggest workload of his rookie season so far, and another sign his role is expanding quickly.
In Other News...
Islanders Fans Just Got A New Belmont Game Day Perk
Belmont Parks reopening has given Islanders fans a fresh game-day option on the south shore, with the racetrack now folding back into the local sports scene after redevelopment. On days when the Islanders and the races overlap, ticket holders can use a promotion tied to the teams game-day email to claim complimentary general admission and make a stop at the track part of the same outing.
The perk adds a little extra value for fans heading out to Long Island, especially those who like turning a game into a longer day around Elmont. There is one catch, though, and it matters for anyone planning the full trip: parking is not included, so fans who want to take advantage of the offer will still need to handle that separately. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Still Have Unfinished Business With Rantanen After Roy's Exit
Mikko Rantanens hit from behind on Alexander Romanov last season still hangs over the Islanders, even as the organization has moved into a new era. The play ended Romanovs season and drew a forceful response from then-coach Patrick Roy, who made it clear how the Islanders felt about it at the time.
Now Roy is gone from the bench, and Romanov is again unavailable after suffering a torn ACL earlier this month. When the Islanders see the Stars next, the matchup comes with some unfinished emotional business, but also a chance for New York to show it can keep its edge and its composure without two people who were central to the original flashpoint. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Face A Brutal Road Test With One Lineup Question Looming
The Islanders hit the ice at Northwell Health Ice Center on Monday with a Western Conference road trip waiting on the other side, and the timing could hardly be more demanding. A three-game swing begins in Dallas, with head coach Pete DeBoer already adjusting around a banged-up lineup and leaning on Brayden Schenn back at center after Cal Ritchies injury shifted the middle of the roster.
Schenn has settled in well between Emil Heineman and Victor Eklund, giving the Islanders at least one line that looks stable as they head out on the road. But the bigger concern is depth, and with the club still sorting through the short-term picture up front, there is at least one lineup question hanging over a trip that figures to test them right away. [Read more 🡒]