After their impressive victory in Minnesota against the Western Conference points leader, the Islanders are set to face the top two teams in the league next. They’ll start with Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Saturday, before welcoming the reigning champions to UBS Arena later in the week.
The NHL season is relentless, and this upcoming homestand against the Oilers, Hurricanes, and Devils — the latter having acquired star goalie Connor Hellebuyck recently — promises to be one of the toughest stretches for any team.
Despite facing numerous injuries, including the addition of Ryan Pulock to that list, the Islanders have managed to earn points in seven of their last eight games and have maintained a high level of play. The last two games, played in Nashville and Minnesota, were particularly convincing.
It almost feels like the hockey gods are challenging the Islanders to keep proving themselves.
“I think we just gotta keep it rolling,” said Matthew Schaefer after scoring the overtime winner against the Wild. “Learn from this road trip and keep going.”
Of course, keeping that momentum isn’t always easy.
If Pulock can’t play on Saturday, the Islanders might have to bring Matt Kessel into the lineup. As of Friday afternoon, they hadn’t called anyone up, which could mean they’ll begin this homestand with just 12 forwards and six defensemen available.
What gives fans hope against some of the league’s fiercest offenses, particularly the McDavid and Draisaitl-led Oilers, is how well the Islanders have adapted to Pete DeBoer’s system.
“I think it starts with our leaders in here,” defenseman Logan Stanley noted. “You look at guys like Bo Horvat, Brayden Schenn, and Kyle Palmieri. They’re playing the right way, which sets a standard for everyone else. Pete’s got a great system. When the leaders do it, everyone else follows.”
While the Islanders held their ground against what has been statistically the best forward line in hockey, Minnesota’s trio, they now face an Oilers unit with an astonishing average of 6.04 goals per 60 minutes, led by McDavid, who is on an unprecedented 232-point pace.
Another interesting aspect of Saturday’s matchup will be how Schaefer fares against Evan Bouchard, a frontrunner for the Norris Trophy. Given that the game is at home, it’s likely DeBoer will want Schaefer matched up against Bouchard and the Oilers’ top line whenever possible.
The reigning champion Hurricanes may not have the same star power, but their pressure-heavy tactics have historically troubled the Islanders, as evidenced by a season sweep last year. This included a close 4-3 contest that eventually led to a coaching change, with Patrick Roy stepping down for DeBoer.
Now, the Islanders seem to believe in their own style, much like Brind’Amour’s Hurricanes.
“When we’re playing Islanders hockey, it’s tough for anyone to compete with us,” Schaefer said. “We frustrate the other team. I think we just stuck to our game against the Wild from start to finish — we played some good hockey.”
If they can replicate that at home, they may catch the attention of the rest of the league.
