Kyle Palmieri gave the New York Islanders exactly the kind of jolt they needed, and he did it in style. The veteran winger scored twice against the Vancouver Canucks, with the second goal standing up as the game-winner in the third period of a 3-2 Islanders victory.
For Palmieri, the night was more than just a strong showing on the scoresheet. It was his first points of the 2026-27 NHL season after going scoreless in the opening five games, and it marked his first production since missing the rest of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
Speaking to NHL.com, the 35-year-old opened up about the grind of coming back from the injury.
"There was a lot on my plate coming back. It was a long time," Palmieri said per Brian Compton.
"I'm not the youngest guy to be coming back from an injury, so I knew it was going to take time and this was still a process for me that I'm learning something about my body every day. It's about just kind of staying focused on the day to day.
It's what I've been doing for 10½ months here, so really just finding a way to progress and get myself better and get myself as close as I can to being an impact player on this team."
Palmieri now has 547 career points, split between 278 goals and 269 assists.
His first goal after the injury came the hard way, with a strong forecheck and a tip-in off a feed from Matt Kessel. The winner was different but just as decisive, a wrist shot that beat Vancouver goaltender Leevi Meriläinen.
“[It] felt good to contribute,” Palmieri also said to NHL.com. “Just been trying to work in my game and make a positive impact with the team and help our team win. Felt good to find a way to get on the score sheet and obviously get the win
Palmieri was also a key part of the Islanders’ top line, skating with captain Bo Horvat and Matias Maccelli. After the game, he reflected on the emotional return to action and the long road back from the ACL tear he suffered on Nov. 28, 2025.
"Just stepping back on the ice for the first day of training camp was emotional," Palmieri said. "To be able to put one in - I don't know how long it's been - 11 months or so since the last goal, it feels good.
It always feels good to score. Luckily enough, our team found a way to win.
It's a good feeling."
The Islanders improved to 3-3-0 with the win and will next face the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 15.
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Islanders Got The Exact Boost They Needed In A Tight Win
Kyle Palmieri gave the Islanders exactly the kind of lift they had been waiting for in a 3-2 win over the Canucks, scoring twice and finishing the night with the deciding goal. It was the sort of timely contribution New York needed in a tight game, and it came with the added significance of Palmieri continuing to work his way back after ACL surgery, a process the team has been watching closely.
Matias Maccelli also fit neatly into the picture, scoring his first goal as an Islander and helping create the winner after getting moved up to the top line. Head coach Pete DeBoer praised both players afterward, pointing to Palmieris return and Maccellis motivation and performance as encouraging signs for a team looking for more reliable offense when the margins are thin. [Read more 🡒]