Islanders Honor Detective Jonathan Diller
The Islanders hosted a memorial for NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller at UBS Arena on Friday night, merely two days after his acquittal on first-degree murder charges.
Meanwhile, Guy Rivera, 36, was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter for the death of Diller’s partner, among other charges, including attempted murder and some firearms offenses.
“Today, the Islander family reflects on the life and legacy of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller,” said street announcer Alex Anthony during a break in the game. “We keep his wife Stephanie, son Ryan, and the entire Diller family in our thoughts. Detective Diller will always remain in our hearts.”
Diller lost his life during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens, back in March 2024. He was such a dedicated Islanders supporter that even the priest mentioned the team in his funeral prayers.
Father Michael Duffy added, “I think John might have been upset if we didn’t also pray for the Islanders today.”
Earlier this April, shortly after Diller’s passing, the Islanders held a moment of silence at a game and donated proceeds from a 50-50 raffle to assist his family.
Police Chief Jessica Tisch expressed her disappointment over Rivera’s acquittal on the murder charge following the verdict this week. “While I am grateful he was convicted on the other charges, I hope the final verdict will underscore the seriousness of his actions and the immense loss felt by Stephanie, Ryan, the Diller family, the NYPD, and the city of New York,” Tisch stated.
Meanwhile, Simon Holmstrom missed a recent game against Buffalo due to an upper-body injury, while Anthony Duclair made his return from injury. The Islanders reverted to their previous lines, with Holmstrom, JG Pageau, and Ondrej Palat forming the third line, while Cal Ritchie, Brayden Schenn, and Matt Barzal made up the second line.
On Friday, Tony DeAngelo was seen skating in the morning before the Islanders had an optional practice. Coach Roy mentioned it wasn’t DeAngelo’s first time on the ice since suffering a lower-body injury, though it was still unclear if he would be traveling to Carolina on Saturday.
