The Islanders close November on Sunday afternoon by starting a new chapter in their 2025-26 story: life without Kyle Palmieri. The winger’s ACL surgery (following a heroic exit) is the latest season-ending injury for a roster that has proven better than many thought — thank you, Matthew Schaefer! — but still tested in the depth department.
The 1 p.m. faceoff today offer the latest chance to get this homestand back on track. They followed the 6-1 road trip with 1-2-1 start to this homestand, and after the Capitals visit this afternoon, the red-hot Lightning and juggernaut Avalanche follow. So this homestand could get messy in a hurry, though admittedly we said the same thing when they headed out west and returned with 12 additional points.
In the ever-tight Eastern standings, the Islanders are no longer in a playoff or wild card position, though that could change today as the Capitals (Wild Card 1) are one point ahead of them and the Penguins are level on points.
Saturday’s scores featured 11 games, including the Leafs destroying the waddling Penguins and old friend Brock Nelson notching four points as the Nordique-clad Avalanche won in Montreal.
