New York Islanders Practice Media Availabilities | 10/17/25

New York Islanders Practice Media Availabilities | 10/17/25

I guess just for you guys, first win of the year last night. Just what’s that do for everything in the room? Man, it’s it’s a relief for sure. Um, we felt like we’ve been playing good hockey and just didn’t get results. So, it’s nice to nice to get a win, especially at home. I thought our crowd was amazing last night. Um, see when we’re playing well and winning games, how fun that place can be. So, hopefully we can give him a few more games like that. Go to the Bo Horvad show last night. Just what do you make of his game and obviously the hat-tick? Yeah, it was great. Um, just doing things the right way out there. uh short-handed power play empty netter um yeah when he’s going you know he’s he’s an engine for us so we’re we’re a better hockey team when when he’s flying when he’s in the bumper spot on the power play I mean obviously you’re you found him there last night just I guess how difficult is it for a player to get the shot off as quickly as he does in that bumper spot and for you to try to find him that one time yeah he’s got he’s got such a wide space I can throw it into um he kind of uses a shorter stick and he’s got such a good release so just try to get into an area for him. Um he’s had a few looks now in that spot and you know timely. He’s he’s he’s usually timely. So it was a big one last night. I guess looking ahead to the Ottawa Sanders tomorrow, just what challenges do they bring to the team? They’re fast. They’re good. They’re they play uptempo games. So it’s going to be a tough challenge anytime you go into that rink. It’s a tough game. And yeah, they got some they got some good players on that team that are tough to defend. So, we’ll just have to be we’ll have to be on our game. Tell us about that. Yeah, I mean, uh I think he’s only got one car right now and his family was coming, so we kind of live close to each other. So, um yeah, he asked me for a ride, so I don’t know. He he brought the good luck, I guess. So, it was good. Is he the only one in the car pool? Yeah, he’s the only one in the car poolool. I usually um now that um Marty’s done and Nelson’s gone and um yeah, that was kind of the the carpool from Manhasset. But um yeah, no, now that uh those guys are gone, so I had to find a new buddy. So play music or uh No, he was just talking the whole time. Yeah. No, he just talked to talked to me the whole time. So uh no, but he’s great. Um you know, he’s he’s such a happy golucky guy and um yeah, he played unbelievable for us last night for sure. Like you said, he chats a lot. How how much on the ice? I mean, is it just constant through the game? I’m sure it’s a better question for the defenseman. Yeah, I I think it’s Yeah, like it’s a better question for the D, but um you know, when you’re a forward going back, especially as a little centerman, you can hear them chatting with the D and, you know, trying to navigate um you know, traffic and stuff like that and and letting them know if they if they’re under duress or anything. So, um no, he’s good that way for sure. Um being vocal with the D. feel like he’s got a good chirp game. That be fair. Yeah. No, I I mean, he likes to chirp. I don’t know if they’re good. Um but yeah, no, he’s uh know he’s like I said, he’s he’s a fun guy to be around and um he keeps a light in the room for sure. And um yeah, he’s just he’s happy every time he comes to the ring, so it’s it’s fun to see for you. Obviously, you know, you had all time to score finally break through just the weight off your shoulder. Yeah. No, I think it was just a matter of time. I think, you know, when you’re getting, you know, it seems like seven shots a game, it’s you’re bound to to find the back of the net one of these times and obviously it was a little frustrating um beginning of the game when they weren’t going in and um you know, finally buried one and kind of the floodgates open from there for that shortanded goal. I mean, how much of that was just sensing that JG was going to be at the, you know, the puck first, give you the confidence to maybe fly the zone a bit? Uh, it was a the more I watched it, um, the more I couldn’t believe the pass that JG made, especially all in one motion on his backhand to to beat two guys like that and put it right on my tape. It’s not an easy play by any means, and he made it look pretty easy. Probably a question for Pio, but you did he say that was he was trying to get it to you there or he just threw it? No. Yeah, he uh he told me, you know, if you don’t yell, you know, I’m not going to try that. and I’m trying to get that 200 f feet and um yeah, as soon as I yelled and and found, you know, saw that I had some open ice um he hit me and I mean yeah know he was definitely trying to to get it to me and and boy did he ever the the zone entries were not great on the early power plays and as the game progressed I thought you were able to establish and you know get into the zone better. Yeah. Is is that just faceoff wins or was there something else? Yeah, most of it’s on me to be honest with you. um you know, not uh not winning that face off so we can set up in the in the in the zone right away. Um but they did a good job of of standing us up and and matching our speed, they credit to them. Um but once we got established and um you know, start moving the puck around quick, we were we were great. And I mean on on our goal, it was just a matter of me winning the face off first and Barzie helping out. Um and that kind of got us kickstarted for that. But um yeah, no, I think it was funny cuz before I think we were first in the league at at zone entries before that game and and then all a sudden, you know, we we were terrible that game. So, I mean, it just it’s the way it goes sometimes and but I’m I’m happy we got that one. What does Schaefer speed when when he gets on to PP1, does that what does that alter if anything? Yeah, I think it just he’s he’s such a threat to to pick up the puck and go, whereas they have to respect him. um they have to respect his speed before he drops it to Barzy and then obviously they have to respect Barzie speed too. So I think it just adds that extra level of um being a threat coming down the ice and I mean he’s so good at it that and he’s so fast that you know those offensive the the forwards have to respect the speed so they they kind of back off a little bit more to make it more room for the drop. Can you just maybe speak to the timing? Obviously be able to one time in the past from Barzion in that bumper spot. There’s not a lot of room there. So, I guess what’s the key to maybe getting that timing down? Yeah, I’m just trying to whack it to be honest with you. Um, you know, obviously you want there’s a kind of a spot where you’re trying to look to to, you know, to get it on net, but for the most part, you don’t have time to think about, you know, catching it, you know, looking up and then trying to pick a corner. So, it was such an elite play by Barzy to be able to to get that to me in such a tight window. And um yeah, for me, I’m just trying to whack it and and hope for the best and thankfully it went in this time. I guess is there maybe a a max wind up that you’re looking for on that play, too, cuz I feel like he didn’t get the stick that high count. Yeah. And I guess being in the bumper spot, you you don’t want to be the the big one time bomb, you know, like the Ovetkin or the guys on the flanks, right? That have a little bit more time to, you know, to wind up. So, it just it’s got to be a quick little snapshot and you know, thankfully I got it off. And could you see out of the Iron Man mask last night? Yeah, as soon as the the mask went up, I could I could see it. Barely fit my head, but um and that’s just because I have a massive head. But, um no, it’s pretty cool. It It’s a fun little thing that we have for after the game. And um I can’t wait to pass it out. So, when when the shield’s on, you can’t see out of it. No, you can still see. Yeah. No, but um it’s just way cooler when it it pops up. So, uh, yeah, it was it was a cool little idea and I mean, yeah, we just got to get more wins so I can I can hand it out. Just first win of the season last night. Just what does that do for you guys in the room here? Um, something to build off. Yeah, I mean, it felt good. Um, I think we were playing some good hockey. Uh, wanted to get rewarded for it and um, good feeling in the room last night and uh, feels good to get back to work today. You know, Bo, obviously it’s a big game, but the power play goal specifically, just when a guy’s in the bumper position the way he is, just how I guess difficult, impressive, whatever you want to say is it to be able to get those shots off one timers from that spot that quick. Yeah, I mean, you don’t have much time in there. Uh, a lot of times there’s two or three sticks kind of right there in your uh in your shooting lane. Uh Barzie put in a great spot for him and and he was ready to ready to rip it and uh it was a big goal for us. Speaking of Barzi, obviously missed a lot of time last year, but was flying out there last night. Just what have you seen from him both last night and to the first four games this year? Yeah, I mean, I think he prepared himself really well. He came into training camp and and looked like he didn’t miss a beat. So, uh I think for him personally, it was uh couple games under his belt in preseason and um he was ready to go. So, he’s uh he’s a driving force for our team and um hopefully continues to to build on that. guy that sits next to you here, Casey Sikas. Believe it’ll be game 9002 on Saturday, which would be just moving up further. I think fourth now all time in the Honor Games played list. In the time you’ve been here, just what has Casey meant to this franchise and just what kind of milestone is 900 games? Yeah, I mean, it’s incredible to to do it all with uh one organization. Um, it’s it’s an awesome achievement for him and and speaks volumes to who he is as a player and as a pro and um the the part of the community that that he’s ingrained himself into. Um, but yeah, I think he’s just going to continue to do it and you know what you’re going to get from Case every night. I I think it’s uh it’s a testament the way he takes care of himself and and goes out there and competes every night. What kind of a locker stalmate is he? Uh, he’s good. I I think I mean I’ve been here since uh since I got traded here. So um I mean I’ve I’ve known Casey since we were little, but uh I think it’s something that as uh as a teammate he’s everything you could ask for and and like I said he’s a he’s a spark plug for us that drives the play every night. Fans uh saw the Iron Man mask now as the team’s kind of item of the game. Just what’s the story behind that? Uh not much. I mean, I don’t know how much Ley shared, uh, but it was I think it was just something he kind of came across and and had the idea and, uh, it’s it’s pretty cool up close. The plan still go to go with Ilia tomorrow? Yes. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. What um I mean I I know you worked with him a little bit, but you know, with the trust you have in him, what are you expecting from him? One save at a time. Yeah, that’s it. Just build one save at a time. Um, that’s what I’ve I’ve been doing. If if I feel I wasn’t playing my best hockey, I would not try to go more than one save at a time. I know you’re an analytics guy. Schaefer leads the NHL in zone denial rate. Just what have you seen from him right inside your blue line to stop the other team from getting in the zone? Yeah, I mean, he’s he’s everything he’s doing right now. It’s it’s it’s impressive. I mean, we um I don’t want to say we’re surprised, but we’re we’re all like, “Wow, you know, so like I said, for 18-year-old, I mean, it’s impressive to be able to do what he does.” and the way he um he moves the puck, the speed that he has um you know just on the power play, the way he moves on that blue line create some offense really fit well with Barzi uh on flank and then even Dwayne on the other flank. So uh seems to me that it’s a little tougher for the other team to defend. Just what have you seen from him in the defensive zone stick placement positioning with Schaefer? Well, he reads the play well and obviously I mean if he’s off position he’s so fast that he’s capable getting it back, you know, at the right time. Bo in that bumper spot on the power play just, you know, how I guess when you see the way he’s able to get that shot off as quickly as he does, just what I guess impresses you or what do you like about him in that spot? Yeah, I mean he’s, you know, open up your hips to get that shot. I mean, and and be in that position. I mean it’s it’s it’s a skill and he has it. Um it was a phenomenal pass by Barzy on that one. I mean that little saucer just just in close. So I mean um you know it’s um it’s more than just positioning yourself for the shot. It’s being able to support into the trigger moment. And that’s what he does really well right now. He’s he’s at the right place. He supports he helps to keep the the power play going. So right now I mean our power play has a lot of possession because we we’re very connected. What do you No issue with Romy for tomorrow. Well I mean he he didn’t practice today so it’s maintenance. We’ll see we’ll see tomorrow after warm up how he is or in the morning. What do you say to Anthony Duclair after you see him you know out there blocking a shot two minutes to go protecting the lead? I think he read he read it is in it. He read it in the paper. I mean, I I I mentioned it also in the dressing room after the game. I mean the their moment in the game where you have to show desperation and that’s one of them and I’m happy happy for

Hear from Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieri, and Head Coach Patrick Roy after today’s practice.