New York Islanders Pregame Availability | NYI at NJD (11/10/25)
What did you like about the game on Saturday night? I think just it was uh fundamentally we were really strong. We had really good structure. I thought we took care of the puck and uh I thought at the beginning of the game when they had a pretty good push and some good looks uh stroken stood tall and you know you kind of combo that up and uh complement one another uh I think uh we put a really good strong game together and uh it was a good night. you know, the offensive output for this team. I mean, I guess where’s the confidence right now knowing that you guys are now a team that takes some of the most shots in the league and obviously rack up the goals, were able to rack up five the other night. Just what is clicking in your mind this season offensively? Well, I think last game, you know, a lot of the results of our our offensive obviously we had a couple couple great power play goals and stuff like that, but um I think structurally coming out of our Dzone, we came out with some possession and you know, Dookie puts a great pass over to Drew and similar just even at the end of the game. I mean, we created a lot from, you know, being in good positions and and the puck coming to us and then, you know, when we get down to the offensive zone, um, bringing the puck to the net and, uh, working them as much as we can, working it low and, um, you know, having a fiveman unit out there. Bo Horvat right now is about as hot as they come. Just what have you seen from him offensively so far this year? He’s shooting the puck so well. I mean, he’s putting himself in great spots. Uh, he sees the ice so well. He knows he knows when to find those soft areas and uh get open for his linemates and they’re putting on his tape. But he’s he finishes he can finish uh with the best of them and uh he’s doing that now. It’s been huge for us and he’s having a great start to the season and um it’s just great to see. We know we uh you almost stand up on the bench when he’s getting the puck. Obviously you guys uh have the locker stalls next to each I think you’re pretty close off this just has he told you anything he’s done differently this year to kind of unlock what was already I mean it’s already been a great offensive player but to unlock this type of scoring I think I think it’s a combination of I know he he had a great summer working and and putting a lot of effort into getting himself ready but you know you start putting a few of these in and and I think he’s just feeling really good about his game and he should he’s playing great hockey uh and you get into those modes you start feeling really good that confidence gets up and um you see the ice you see those goals and um he’s taking advantage of that and uh playing some of the best hockey I’ve seen him play. But uh like I said, it’s just it’s so strong from him to have for us uh as a team. Uh the way he’s he’s taken charge out there and and putting the puck in the net. You know, what kind of test is this Devils team here tonight? They’re obviously really good at home. Um you know, they’re up and down the ice. They got great forwards. It’s uh it’s it’s tough to get one pass marks from. So, we got a we got a job to do and an effort to have and um you know, we play with that similar uh way we did last game where we were just on top of them as much as we could and and took care of the puck. Um I like I like us coming in and having a great game. Obviously, it was just the one game so far, but what did you get out of playing with Ryan Pulock the other night? Yeah, I mean we have a we have a great decor and it’s uh it’s always fun to uh you know, change it up. I mean, I played with Mayfield, so I got you know, used to playing with him and now I’m playing with Pulock. I mean, they’re they’re both great players, so it’s pretty easy to adapt, too. So, um yeah, I mean, I uh I love playing with them. I guess just what maybe are some of the things that you can kind of learn from a guy like that? Cuz a bit of a different style from Scotty, right? But, uh what can you maybe take away from Ryan’s game? Yeah, I mean, they’re they’re both amazing players. Um you know, really good hockey sense. Um you know, really good defensively. I mean, um I want I want to be an all-around player. I want to be really good defensively. I want to be shutting down guys. I also want to be really good offensively. Um I think when you’re good in the Dzone, it takes care of the ozone. So, um, always defense before offense. So, yeah, I mean, just, you know, learning from them. I mean, they’re super good defensively. Bo Horvat right now is on a pretty good heater. Just what have you seen from his game and I’m sure maybe going up against him in practice a little bit the last few weeks here? Yeah, he’s hot. Um, I’d stay away from him. Uh, but yeah, he’s he’s doing great things right now. I mean, uh I mean, he’s going to stay hot. He’s going to keep going. Um, we’re going to keep rolling as a team. So, uh, you know, I know uh I know tonight’s a big one, so we’re going to focus on tonight and then uh you know, we’ll move on. you know, what kind of challenge is this Devils team tonight? Obviously, they’re pretty good at home. One of the top teams in the league so far. Just what do you see as the kind of test they present? Yeah, I mean, they’re a great team. I think we’re, you know, we’re just worried about, you know, us in here. Um, uh, I think we got something good going for us right now. And, uh, I mean, honestly, I mean, they’re a great team, but, you know, I think we’re a really good team, too. So, uh, it’s going to be a good matchup tonight, and, uh, we’re going to look for the two points. Obviously, just the one game the other night, but, you know, what do you take away from playing with Matthew Schaefer? Maybe what can you impart on him as his defensive partner? Yeah. No, I mean I think uh you know just trying to help him, trying to set some picks for him here and there. Um let him skate. I think uh for me for us it’s it’s about breaking out pucks. Um trying to give each other skin, trying to talk. I think that’s the biggest thing is just talking to each other makes it uh so much easier out there. What have you seen from him his, you know, first handful of games here in the NHL? Uh pretty good. Um, no. I mean, just the way he skates, his composure, his poise with the puck to make plays and under pressure and make plays and just really not intimidated out there at all. I think he goes into the corners, he goes to front of the net, wherever he’s got to go. Um, ready to compete and um, you know, I think you’re just going to see that grow and grow as his career continues. you know, kind of seems like a full team effort in here to kind of help bring him along, but do you remember back when you were starting out who maybe some of those veteran defenseman were for you to kind of help you get acclimated here to the league? Yeah. Um, you know, you need that um, you know, to help each other out, help the young guys out. I think when I first came here, Hamnik, um, Dhan, uh, you know, and then Johnny Boychuk Lety after that, you know, some of the guys, just, you know, just the conversations, the little tips here and there, um, they go a long way. um to make you feel comfortable and and confident and you know that’s when you’re going to bring your best is is when you’re feeling like that. So um I think it’s important just to have each other’s backs like that and and kind of lift each other up and and make guys especially young guys feel comfortable um going out there every night. What did you like about the team’s game on Saturday night and how can you bring it here tonight in Jersey? Yeah, I think uh you know coming off Friday we knew we had to be a lot better. Um I thought going into Saturday we played a pretty good road game. Uh there was times we had to just kind of muck it in our Dzone and and just you know battle and get it out and there was times to make plays which I thought we did. So um no I think uh you know we we got to build on that. We can’t uh we can’t do it one night not the next. So um another great test here against a pretty good team. So um you know just looking to bring that same effort. You know, a lot gets made of the Islander Ranger rivalry and whatnot, but I think the last handful of games here and against the Devils been pretty chippy and pretty close games just what kind of test is tonight and how much do you guys get up for these games against your other tri-state rivals? Yeah. No, I think you know there’s two valuable points available um teams that you’re fighting for playoff spots against. Um and then yeah, just being so close. uh you know fans are you know there’s a lot of fans that come here jersey fans come to New York so it’s always you know a good atmosphere and and just play each other a lot preseason regular season so you know sometimes there gets to be a little extra chip chippiness to it but um you know I think that’s what kind of brings a that’s what makes the game you know at its best I think it’s when you have two teams battling you know hard out there and I think that’s what the fans like and that’s you know type of hockey you want to Can it help sometimes to change up the D pairs just to kind of give a new look or I don’t know a little bit of a refresh? Yeah, I mean at times yeah sometimes I mean you know you go through 82 games it’s it’s not always going to be the same. Um there could be little moments where you want to change for different matchups or whatever it might be. But um I think uh you know when when you make a change like that it it uh can maybe bring a spark here and there. And you know, I thought the guys did a pretty good job the other night. What do you notice just about playing? I know obviously you’ve seen Schaefer in practice, but playing online with him. Just what is maybe what does he bring that maybe you didn’t see? Um, I mean, I think you see it um from the bench, but I just think his ability to skate and skate out of trouble. Um, I think for me is just trying to give him some space, trying to create space for him. Um, for for us as a pair, it’s just about getting back and breaking up pucks and and you know, letting him get up in the play and try to do some of the dirty work for him. So, um, no, I thought we did a a decent job the other night. Some stuff we can definitely get a little better at, but um, some stuff to build on and, you know, look to just continue that, uh, partnership here tonight. Is he a player that asks you for advice on what’s going on? He’s like a sponge. Wants to learn even more. Yeah, for sure. He’s always He’s always asking questions. he’s always trying to get better at different areas of his game. Um, in the game, after the game, he’s always, you know, what about this play? What, you know, what can we what can we do here? So, um, it’s kind of fun working with that. You know, you can kind of lean on each other. Um, you know, he’s, even though he’s young, he obviously sees the ice well and knows plays the game really well. So, I can learn things from him and, you know, just keep trying to grow together. Is it nice to see New Jersey and Long Island get in so basically the the spotlight in the media market here in New York because the Rangers they seem to always steal the show. Um New Jersey. Yeah. I mean, you know, when you have top talent talent, um people are going to talk about it. You look at the the roster here and some of the top talent they have here. I mean, the things they do on the ice. Um you know, some of the guys now with Sha and you know, Bars and those guys. I mean, it’s it’s top end talent. um you have no choice but to talk about it. So yeah, I mean it’s obviously it’s obviously good when you know it’s good for the team, good for the franchise when it gets talked about. Just what what did you like so much about the D pairs the other night? I don’t know. I I felt like um it was a good mix in a way that um we had experience on every pairing. Um I thought that Romy and Maisy played really well together. I mean, brought that physicality on that pairing. Um, I thought that was uh was good for P to play with Tony D in a way that I think, you know, they’re both uh guys that like to talk and so I really love the the the the pairing and I thought they did a really good job. Talking to Richie, he said obviously he wants to bring more offense, but he’s been happy with the way he’s defended. Just what’s your message to him? First thing you want to see from a young guy is how well they play defensively and he’s doing that really well. Uh the offense is going to take care of itself. I mean experience playing more games. I mean I I I am not nervous at all with with him. I mean I actually I love uh what he brings to the team. I mean he’s he’s um skates well, sees the ice well. Um so I’m I’m confident that offensively things will go well for him at some point. Patrick, everyone sees what what Matthew is doing out there, but can you from experience, from playing experience, from coaching experience, how difficult is it for him to be doing what he’s doing as an 18-year-old at the position he plays? It’s rare that you see young defenseman play, you know, um, able to at such a young age. Normally, defenseman takes a little more time to develop. I mean, that’s that’s been the the the thing for years. Uh but him it’s different in the way that he’s so fast. I mean he’s um he’s so aware of the importance of awareness about playing well defensively and offensively. So that’s there’s a lot of credit for that. I mean he’s you could tell that he’s watching games and um he’s looking forward to to learn and and basically be the best version of himself. And I think he’s been adapting really well to because when you bring a young guy, the first thing you’re you’re nervous about is the defensive side and he he has no problem with that. I mean, he’s he’s playing well. He’s been killing pies at times. Uh and and he’s so quick putting the pressure and closing on the other team. So, that takes away a lot of offensive options for the other team. What do you What do you think is maybe unlocked in Bose’s game right now? Just the way that he’s scoring? Why? First of all, I mean, what I love about Bo is playing 200 feet game. Um, and I think when you’re doing a lot of good defensive things, you don’t spend much time in as much time in your zone. So, that gives you more opportunity offensively. I mean, last game we score a lot of goals on our rush because actually we were really good in our neutral zone or or gapping up and and that’s how we scored that that those goals. So, I mean, but seeing Bo the way he’s been playing, um, I think he’s been making a really good impression on on on on on the team Canada for the Olympics, and that’s the hockey he needs to play to help the Islanders to win hockey games as well. What What did you notice from Ziplov the other night? He was better at protecting the puck. He was using more his body. Um, and and we he needs to continue. He knows what he has to do. I mean, uh, he needs to manage that puck well. He needs to take care of that puck and when he does that he’s fine. I mean, he’s playing well defensively. He’s he’s very he’s very dangerous when he’s he’s around the net a bit like Anders does, you know, like gets those puck, bring the puck to the net, use his body to protect pucks, use his body to get the puck out of the zone. So, managing the puck is is is take care of the puck is the thing that he needs to to do really well. He he talked about wanting or or needing to, you know, prove that that he should get more ice time, prove that he should be further up the lineup. I assume obviously that’s a mindset that you want to see, but how do you It’s nice to see that you want this for any players. I mean, but at the end, we have a good good lineup right now and and and he’s on that that line with Richie and Sizakus, and you know, he’s got to do what he’s got to do with the ice time we’re giving him. Yeah. I I How do you prevent a guy who’s who’s in that situation from from pressing too hard or, you know, trying too hard, especially when he’s been out of the lineup for for for a few games? Yeah. You know, probably want to do too much. You mean? Yeah. Um I guess it’s he just need to be himself, you know, like not trying to actually to do too much. and and um when you want to do too much, I guess you it’s it’s the opposite that happens. I mean, you’re you’re putting yourself in more trouble. I mean, I think Sep just need to We’ve got guys like Simon, you know, was playing, sorrying, but the fourth line and he now he’s been bumping to the third line and now Pasual’s line and now he’s with Barsy. things, good things happen when you play the right way and and when you have the good mindset and and I think Sepi should not focus on the Einstein. He should focus on how he’s playing the game and I think that will take care of itself. Did uh Sha did Shabanov make the trip? No, it it’ll be on the trip in Vegas, but not this
Hear from Captain Anders Lee, Ryan Pulock, Matthew Schaefer, and Head Coach Patrick Roy ahead of tonight’s game vs the New Jersey Devils.
