New York Islanders Practice Media Availabilities | 10/27/25

over this five game point streak, what’s been working for your team? Um, I think the, you know, the the compete level that we have as as a group, um, even uh, even if we’re not playing our best game, um, you know, guys are are buying in, they’re doing the things that need to be done, blocking shots, getting pucks out. Um, you know, we’re I think our special teams are are doing really well and you know, they’re creating a lot off the power plays with kills uh getting the job done and um you know, I think those things are important. Speaking of special teams, you talked about the penalty kill. What’s been that difference and what’s allowed you guys to be successful on it, especially with Simon Holmstrom’s short-handed goal the other day? Yeah, it’s, you know, we’re we have our trigger moments. We we know when we need to go and um I think we’re all on the same page. when one guy goes, then um then everyone goes and and you can see that happening. Uh we’re getting clears, we’re getting faceoffs. Um you know, our our guys are doing an unbelievable job in the dot and we’re getting pucks down the ice right off the hop and killing um you know, killing 15 20 seconds. I think our stands at the blue line uh are really good and um kind of everything’s just just working right now and we’re we’re we’re a unit. We’re not individuals out there. We’re working as a unit and and that’s important. And this team has been more electric offensively. What’s been that difference this year through eight games? Um, yeah, I guys are hungry. Um, you know, we we want to prove ourselves. We want to prove that we’re a team that can can that uh that can compete for the playoffs and, you know, guys are are buying in and doing what they have to do. It’s uh it’s coming from everyone and that that’s huge. The team has depth at at defense, especially with Warren coming in, making his NHL debut. How special is that to see him um in front of friends and family skating for his hometown team? Yeah, I mean it’s it’s an incredible uh you know it was an incredible night for him and or I guess afternoon. Um first NHL game for the um with the team that you grew up watching and um you know to get two points in in that match as well. It’s it’s you know it’s exciting. I don’t think you could ask for anything more. The way he plays, the way he competes uh the the way he works out there is incredible and um you know he deserved u he deserved every minute that he got on that ice. kind of like what’s the mindset heading into Boston tomorrow and then the rest of the week on the road trip? Hey, you know, Boston’s always a tough place to play in and um you know, they their team’s playing really well right now. So, you know, we’re going with the mindset that we we have to do what we’ve been doing from the from the get- go. Um you know, they’ve uh they’re big and and you know, they play heavy and they you know, that’s that’s been their style um you know, since I’ve been in the league. So, it’s uh it’s going to be a good test for us and um we’re excited for the challenge. What’s been working for this team in the fivegame point streak? Um, you know, a lot of commitment I think to uh from everyone. A lot of, you know, sacrifice. We’re on the same page and we’re working extremely hard, you know, to uh to get point to climb up the standing and everyone uh is buying in and uh it feels like a good energy right now. Everyone’s pushing the same way, so it’s always fun. Uh we’re playing as a team. And speaking of commitment, the penalty kill has been really strong lately. What’s been that difference? And also Simon Hollman getting that short-handed goal the other day. Yeah. Yeah. It’s it’s something we we’ve worked a lot on and we’re we’re going to keep building and working on it. Uh you know we’ve g some goals um you know at the end of the kill sometime but we’ve where we’ve been doing a good job but we want to keep working um you know on it. We want to be better and we know that can make a big difference in a game. The other game we got one but we also gave one up so it’s uh makes a big difference. There’s some good power plays in this league and penalty kill is extremely important and everyone takes pride so we want to keep building on it. What have you seen from Holstrom in the past two two games since he was elevated to your line? You know, um I always thought he was a key player um since he since he came in. Um you know, his first year here and I just seen so much growth in this game. Uh you know, his hockey IQ uh it’s outstanding. But just his skill, his confidence, and you see him the past couple games, how how uh it was a game difference. You know, he makes a big difference in the in every game he’s he’s playing. And I I saw even more in the last couple of games where he’s, you know, he’s playing with that confidence that protecting his puck, blocking shots, making all those little details sometime that, you know, you’re not always seeing on the score sheet, but I guess in the past couple we have, but you know, he does all those little details that makes a big difference at the end of the game. And he’s an extremely great teammate. So, uh, I’m happy for him to see, you know, finally get on the score sheets and get rewarded. And you and him are both such effective penalty killers, but also pop up on the score sheet sometimes short-handed. um what makes him and you so effective uh on the penalty kill, especially when a short-handed goal is needed in those moments. Yeah, I mean it’s hard to tell. I think we’ve we’ve have a extremely good chemistry um off the ice and and on the ice we it’s a bit it cannot translate on the ice after um we talk a lot a lot of communication where we’re going to be on the ice. a lot of reps together. So, we we get to know uh where we’re going to be on the ice, which uh where we’re going to put pressure and and on those key moments, we’re, you know, always ready to go the other way. Uh I think we have the the same mentality on that end, so that uh that clicks. And finally, how special was it to see Warren make his NHL debut in skating for his hometown team? Yeah, it’s uh it was amazing. Uh we talked a little bit in the morning. Hey, I mean I I still remember my first game, but to see him uh you know with all those little butterflies and and I think it just makes you happy as a teammate to see him uh and he did so well for us. Uh you know, he worked so hard all his career and he he deserved that chance and and he took it. He he did a great job for us during that game. Um luckily for him, we we talked a bit about history and and what he asked me what I did in my first game. I’m like I couldn’t do my pregame nap. Uh thankfully it was a 12:30 game for him. He didn’t have to do his nap and uh I think he was super excited but he didn’t show he showed a lot of composure and he played awesome for us. So you didn’t get your pregame nap. What what else do you remember from your your first game playing for Ottawa? Yeah, it was in Philly also. So that’s that’s what was kind of kind of special. So uh it reminded me some some some great memories. And obviously, you don’t always know the, you know, the the old systems or you kind of just try to trust your instinct. And I remember that feeling, you know, just coming in and trying to leave everything on the ice. And, uh, I think he did. You could see how hard he was working every shift. And, uh, I was extremely proud of him and happy for him. Warren’s work ethic is so outstanding and of course an NHL debut is excited exciting for any player but for him with that special Islanders connection there being a fan. Was it you know evident to you like the extra pep in his step on Saturday? Oh yeah. It was uh it’s kind of surreal. I feel like you could feel it. Um I don’t know what’s the exact word. I said butterfly earlier but just the the joy I think in his eyes was uh was contagious. You see how much it meant to him and uh that’s contagious. I I I think everyone got a little bit of that uh from him and that was a great moment to live with him. Is there a plan for Romanov to play tomorrow? No, not for tomorrow. And um Shabanov, is he traveling? He hasn’t skateed yet. Well, so he’s not going to be on the road. No, he won’t be on the road. Um what have you seen since Simon Holsttorm has kind of been on the third line? What have you seen from his game? See, a lot of good things. Uh, first of all, I mean, I feel like he’s skating really well. Um, he’s, um, protecting his puck very well. Um, I feel like he’s gaining confidence with his shot. Um, you guys asked me a question maybe two weeks ago about the number of shot he had and then he start putting pucks on Ned and he scored. So, um, I feel like maybe it’s just a confidence thing. So, I feel like his confidence is getting back as well. Is uh Scott Mayfield going to make the trip? Yeah, he will play. Okay. I mean, I think he will play tomorrow. I’ll be very surprised. It’s more maintenance than anything. So, I expect him to play tomorrow. And uh is the plan for Marshall to stay in the lineup or come out for both? We’ll make a decision tomorrow morning on this one. With Holmstrom, what does he do so well defensively without the puck? Well, he’s got great reads. Um, I just feel like the the connection between Pou and him is it’s pretty um pretty good for us in a way that they, you know, they they they feel each other, they read each other, and seems to me that they’re connecting really well. This was the first time we got to see your overtime plan with those three guys starting, you know, Horvat, Schaefer, and what what do you see in the potential for that threesome given all the skills they have? Well, a lot of speed, too. I mean, that was it was nice to see those three together and they had their chances. Um, and and I think that was something that we’re certainly think about repeating. So, I mean, it’s it’s it was nice to do, but I will say this, uh, we had a lot of options in that game. I mean, we have a lot of guys that could play and so it was uh it’s nice to see. I assume Schaefer’s It seems obvious, but it seems like Schaefer’s skill set fits that threeon three very well. Yes, he does. Um, what I I was It’s probably your next question, but I’m very impressed the way that obviously support the attack, but I’m also very impressed the way he defends penalty killing. I mean, he’s he’s he’s in those shooting lanes, he block shots, he’s uh having great reads. Um, he uh he’s quick on those loose puck, those 5050, and he wins those battles. So very impressed the way he defends lately. I mean he hasn’t get pointed in the last two games but he defend really well. Is it plan to go with Sorroken tomorrow? Yes, Sorroen will play tomorrow. Uh Reic will play against uh Carolina and Ilia will be back against Washington. You mentioned in the past that you trust Simon H Homestrom. You you’ve said it a few times, but is it rare to find maybe somebody who kind of has that complete game, especially on the defensive side from a forward who still is fairly young like he is? Is it rare? I don’t think it is rare. Um there’s a lot of guys like example PZ Bjon was very good defensively and offensively. So, I think Simon has that ability to uh be very uh very reliable defensively, but also capable of putting numbers on the board. Let’s talk about Peasio and Holmstrom’s chemistry, but especially short-handed. What clicks so well? Other than the read, I would say they they um they do a very good job, you know, on the loose puck and and and create some twoon ones. I mean, how many goals did they score short-handed? That was an example against the Flyers. Simon jump into it. So, they have that that that quality of being able to uh read those plays very well together and they’re really like working well. What’s your thoughts on shootouts especially as a goalie? Try to win the game though. No. Do do you think it’s you think it’s harder than going up against a breakaway with speed or you think it’s you know what’s your thoughts on shootouts in general and how you’d you’d play one? It doesn’t really matter when I was playing it didn’t really matter if the guy would go very slow but I didn’t have that many shootout. I mean the only really shootout I had in my career was in Nagono in the Olympics. Um, and but in my days, you know, there was no shootout. There was tie after a overtime. So, I would love to be in that position to to have the chance to win the game out of shootout would have been something I probably would work harder at in the practice and stuff like this. So,

Hear from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, and Patrick Roy after practice.

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