The Islanders are rolling out the same lineup Thursday night, but the spotlight belongs to the man in net.
New York hosts the Los Angeles Kings at UBS Arena to close out a brief two-game homestand, and after back-to-back wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks, the Islanders are trying to keep the momentum alive against a Western Conference opponent. The schedule only gets heavier from here, with six straight games against Western Conference teams and eight of the next 12 on the road, making home points especially valuable.
For the Islanders, this is also a notable night for Semyon Varlamov. The veteran backup will make his third start of the season, and the first on home ice since Nov. 25, 2024, against the Detroit Red Wings.
New York lost that game 4-2. His last home win as a starter came more than two years ago, on Oct. 19, 2024, in a shootout against the Montreal Canadiens.
Varlamov’s first two starts this season came on the road, against the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators, as he continued his comeback after missing nearly two years because of partial replacements on both knees. Now he gets another chance in front of the home crowd, and the Islanders are hoping he can help extend their winning streak.
The matchup in goal is favorable on paper. Varlamov comes in with a .905 save percentage and 1.94 goals-against average, while Darcy Kuemper brings in an .869 save percentage and 3.95 goals-against average after the Kings picked up their first win of the season, a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Up front and on the back end, the Islanders are sticking with the same group they used against Anaheim. Kyle MacLean and Mitchell Chaffee will again skate on the fourth line with Casey Cizikas after both made encouraging season debuts earlier in the week.
On defense, Matthew Kessel stays in the lineup as the third-pairing right side with Tony DeAngelo. Kessel has two assists through four games and is plus-2, while Scott Mayfield will sit as a healthy scratch.
In Other News...
Islanders Are Teasing A Jersey Fans Will Instantly Recognize
The Islanders spent part of their social media feed building suspense around a jersey reveal, and they did it in a way longtime fans will recognize right away. The teaser leaned into the franchises nautical history and the Fisherman Era, a look that still gets people talking whenever it comes back into the conversation, even before any actual design details are shown.
What made the post stand out was the puzzle wrapped around it, a coded message that pointed toward something new while clearly reaching back to an old theme. The club has not yet shown the crest, colors or striping, but the setup suggests a jersey meant to stir up instant memories for Islanders fans who know exactly what that style means. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Fans Should Watch This Defense Market Twist Closely
Scott Mayfields name has quietly become one to monitor as the defense market starts to stir, and the Islanders are in a familiar spot of having a veteran with real contractual heft and a role that has shrunk lately. He still has three years left on his deal and, for now, a full no-movement clause, but the fact that he has spent most of the recent stretch as a healthy scratch has only added to the sense that change could be coming for a player who once looked like a stable part of the blue line.
Across the league, teams are beginning to show interest in adding help on defense, which makes Mayfield part of a wider ripple effect rather than just an Islanders-only storyline. Los Angeles is also worth keeping on the radar here because Drew Doughty has already signaled he is open to a team-friendly return while acknowledging the Kings could choose another path, and when a market starts to bend in one place, it can create movement in another before anyone has fully mapped out the dominoes. [Read more 🡒]
Barzals Knee Trouble Just Became A Bigger Islanders Concern
Mathew Barzals return to the Islanders after a long recovery had already been encouraging, but the bigger picture around his left knee remains unsettled. After missing significant time and working his way back into NHL action, the center has still been dealing with recurring inflammation despite being medically cleared, a reminder that a clean bill of health does not always mean the problem is fully behind a player.
The concern is now less about the initial injury and more about what keeps showing up afterward. Barzals ongoing issues have even affected his participation in other hockey events, and rehabilitation specialist Darren McConaghy has pointed to the possibility that there may be underlying physical limitations conventional exams are not fully catching. For the Islanders, that leaves a familiar question hanging over one of their most important players: how reliable is the knee going forward? [Read more 🡒]