Islanders Face Predators in First Day Game of the Season

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders take on the Nashville Predators today at 12:30 p.m. at UBS Arena, marking the team’s first matinee game of the season. The Islanders (26-25-7) are coming off a narrow 2-1 victory against the Boston Bruins, while the Predators (21-30-7) recently ended the Winnipeg Jets‘ 11-game winning streak with their own 2-1 win.

Head Coach Patrick Roy emphasized the advantages of the early start, stating, “It gives your guys the rest of the day to rest. Schedule-wise, the day comes fast but the recovery is very good for your next game. We’re in [a stretch of] six games in 10 days, it’s good for us to be ready to play at 12:30 and be good for the next couple of games.” This matinee marks a crucial recovery opportunity for players amid a demanding schedule.

The Islanders’ recent victory saw contributions from Alexander Romanov and Kyle Palmieri, with Ilya Sorokin delivering a stellar performance in net with 38 saves.

The Predators are arriving in New York following a home win over the Jets, where Filip Forsberg and Tommy Novak contributed with goals, while Juuse Saros stopped 22 shots. Notably, the Predators are currently on a three-game road trip, struggling with a 6-18-4 record away from home this season.

The matchup today is particularly important as the Islanders have yet to face the Predators in this season’s series. Last year, the two teams split their two meetings, with the Islanders winning 2-0 at UBS Arena thanks to a shutout by Semyon Varlamov.

As the Islanders prepare to face off, several player updates are noteworthy. Noah Dobson returned to action from a lower-body injury, logging 18:54 in ice time against the Bruins. Roy confirmed that Dobson will remain paired with Adam Pelech for the upcoming game. Other expected healthy scratches include Scott Perunovich and Scott Mayfield.

Hudson Fasching is set to start on a line with JG Pageau and Casey Cizikas after returning from an injury that sidelined him for 17 games. Meanwhile, Pierre Engvall will rejoin the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last game.

The Islanders have seen a resurgence in scoring, with Kyle Palmieri netting four goals in his last five games, currently ranking third on the team with 39 points. Brock Nelson is also on a roll, having a four-game point streak with five points during that span.

This game presents an opportunity for the Predators to secure a much-needed victory as part of their challenging road journey. They are currently anticipating matchups against the Rangers and Bruins in the coming days.

Likewise, Nashville’s roster underwent significant changes in the offseason, acquiring Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. While Stamkos has been struggling with just 33 points this season, Marchessault has adapted well to his new team, posting 45 points. Forsberg leads the Predators with 22 goals.

Today’s match is sure to provide high-stakes action as both teams vie for crucial points in the playoff race, further intensified by the unique circumstances of a midday showdown.