New York Islanders Postgame Availability | NYI 3 vs CBJ 3 (11/02/25)

New York Islanders Postgame Availability | NYI 3 vs CBJ 3 (11/02/25)

Do you start thinking after that goal like like kind of mentally saying, “All right, now it’s going to overtime and then obviously it’s not.” No, I think you just take it, you know, step by step. I mean, I think we just we had so much momentum. We’re like, we want to end this game here. And uh um I mean, I I thought we battled so hard and I thought that was our game. I mean, all over the ice. I mean, obviously there there’s going to be, you know, bad bounces, mistakes, penalties. Um but we really fought hard. We fought um back and we uh we got that one. What was the difference in play in those final minutes to really turn the tide in a thrilling fashion? Yeah, I mean I I think the biggest thing is like I mean you hate losing and uh I mean we’re such a good team. I mean we uh I thought we were better than them tonight and I thought we were just you know like I said I mean I said this already but like we were grinding, we were working hard, we were pushing the pace, we were getting shots and I mean you look at the shots and uh we really outshot them there. So um I knew we got we uh were due for a couple goals there in the last minute. So uh yeah, I mean they went in and uh it worked out for us. What were your goals for you? Just what’s been working for you so well offensively your first two goal night of your career? Yeah, I mean teammates I think I just got to you know rely on them. I mean I don’t think that’s going in. If uh you know Ley’s not there screening the goalie. I don’t think he really saw much. So I think Ley play was uh the main main guy there that uh you know really sealed that. Um but yeah I mean get pucks on that. I mean um it’s pretty easy even on the power play the first goal. I mean they find me and then all I have to do is shoot it. So uh pretty easy. What what can a win like that do for for everybody here in this room? No, it means a lot. I think it shows what type of what type of group this is. It’s a tight group and we never we never quit and we keep going to until the whistle blows kind of found their legs in the second period there, but the the penalty kill stood strong. What’s the key to how consistent you guys have been short-handed? No, I think we’re doing a great job. I think we’ve been doing a great job all season. I think, you know, we’ve been getting a couple unlucky bounces if that what we want to call it. And tonight we we got a couple uh big big kills and we’re able to kill it off. Just recap those final few minutes of the third period there. Yeah. No, it was it was great. I think like I said before, I think we did a great job in six on five to be able to score that one and then, you know, I think it’s great mentality to not not stop at two to two and just keep going and we were able to to get the last one as well. What was that mentality tied it to to to not want to go to overtime to kind of get the job done? What was the mentality among the group? You know, I think just keep going with the momentum. Usually when you score like a goal like that, the other team might, you know, fall fall back a little bit. And I think we did a great job pushing them and able to get get the get the last goal. And just um what can a win like this do for you going forward, two wins in a row, getting back on the right track, just the confidence in the room? No, I think it’s awesome. Like I said, we we have a really tight group and I think it shows out there to that we we’re going to battle for 60 minutes and we’re never going to stop until until Louis blows. for Matthew Schaefer, his first two goal game of his career. Just how impressive has it been how offensive he’s been, especially his age and him being a defenseman? No, it’s been it’s been fun to watch uh to say the least. Uh he’s a he’s a great skater. He’s super poised with the pocket and he was able to to score big goals, two big goals for us tonight. Does it get frustrating at all in the first period when you have such a decided advantage and it’s a you know one- nothing game or do you just figure, you know, you’re playing your game, you keep going? Yeah, I think I mean I don’t think it’s frustrating. Um I think we were we wanted to build off uh the last 45 minutes in Washington the other day. Um and find a way to to start building our game for a week at home before we uh go on the road for whatever it is, six or seven games. Uh so uh so yeah, we want to take care of business and it started with tonight. when Columbus kind of had their legs in the second period there, the the PK went a perfect three for three. Um, how key was that and what’s been um what’s been the secret sauce to why the PK has been so consistent lately? Uh, yeah, I mean guys are are having good sticks. Uh, but we changed some things coming out of camp there um that maybe took a little bit to to really take hold, but um I think we’re building confidence on it and hopefully uh we continue to make a positive impact on on the game. How impressive has Schaefer been? Of course, his first two goal game of his career. Yeah. Uh, no, it’s it’s pretty incredible. Um, coming off a a pretty good month. Um, I think he’s just going to continue to get better. Uh, but he’s a joy to have in the locker room. U always has a smile on his face and that uh 18-year-old kid energy. So, um, it’s been great so far and he’s just uh going to continue to get better. Two straight wins so far. What can that do for for confidence for this group? Yeah, like I mentioned uh before, um we we got an opportunity at home uh for this week before we uh go on the road for a while. So, uh it’s a good start and want to keep it going this week. Kind of recap the mentality in that third period. Was it the confidence tied it to you to get the job done? Yeah, uh it was a pretty wide range of emotions. I I thought there was some frustration there, but as a group, we uh we knew we were playing good hockey. We just had to find a way to to get one uh get one by them. So, um, found a way and and next one went in and all of a sudden it’s, uh, like I said, the the emotions changed quick. First period was really solid. We had a lot of chances. Uh, their goalie was really good. Makes some great save, kept the game where it was and and um I thought in the third we um we show character. we showed that we were resilient um by tying the goal and then scoring right after. So, but like I said to the guys uh after the first, I mean, what impressed me the most was we were putting pressure on them from the start to the end and that’s that was no let down and keep going at them and I was pretty impressed the way the guys handled that. It was uh it was fun to watch. just the way you had to kill a lot of penalties. You There was some adversity. Obviously had a couple. Well, I think the penalties in in in the second period kind of kill a little bit of our momentum. Um and but I think we gave them what 10 shots five on five. Four on under on their power play. Out of the 10 shots, maybe three were pocket shots. The rest they were shooting from pretty much everywhere. Tried to generate some offense. That’s what everybody wants to do. like you know you throw puck from even from bad angles. Uh but I thought that um David did a nice jobing those ones and and our penalty killing was really good. Boogie does a really good job with the guys and the guys are buying into what he’s doing and and and they were blocking shots. They were on their toes on the on the triggers. Um no, I thought that was a solid 60 minute. I mean and I was happy for our fans because we need some games like this. a little bit of drama at the end. That’s not too bad in a night like this because I thought we were the best team on the ice, the better team. Um, do you have a question? Yeah. No, I I’m just thinking the writers would vote for the 7-2 win over the Red Wings every day. But for sure, for sure. But it’s it’s exciting, you know, like coming back like this and um see the excitement and of our fans. That was that was nice. Um, just back to the PK a little bit. When you put in, you know, you tweak the system, you put you get a new coach in, does it take a team just a little bit, even though you go through camp in the preseason to sort of, you know, work out the kinks in games? Yeah, I would say I would say yes. Uh, every time you you you making some changes, I mean, takes a bit time to adjust and adapt and um and I think our guys are are right now buying into it. I mean, we we’ve been doing a good job. Tonight was a good example. I mean, finding ways to kill those penalties in the second period and not give them a chance to take the lead, especially when they score that first goal, that kill at the end of the period was a good one. I know it’s just game 12 of the season, but can a win like this sort of you move it forward. Yeah, I would like to say yes and I hope so as well. Um, you know, I mean, it’s nice to be rewarded when you play a good game, you know. I mean, it it’s it’s um especially I mean, knowing that we could come back in games like this, I think that could be also a very positive thing for us. Richie’s first full game at center. Just what did you um Very happy, very smart player. I mean, I think the faceoff’s a little tougher for him, but I think it’s normal because he’s young. Uh Benny’s going to work with him on the faceoff circle, and I I think he’ll be fine. But um plays a good good 200 feet game. Played smart in in the zone. Pretty heavy on pucks. Um made some great plays. We had a made a really nice plays a nice play sorry at the entry. Gave uh Tony D’Angelo a great scoring chance in that second period. So I I was and you know what I’m not nervous. I mean, he, you know, at first we tried to match up with with the coil line and after that we went with Fentellini and and I was comfortable. Between him and and Schaefer and the, you know, the young talent that you have right now, just how exciting is it to to to coach that and to see it, you know, every day and obviously especially a game like this? Not just for me, for the players as well. You know, the the the guys that have been here for a while, seeing those two guys coming in and and the way they’ve been playing. I think it’s it’s it’s it’s fun. It’s fun for this franchise. It’s fun for our fans. It’s fun for the players, and it’s nice to to coach these guys. I mean, there’s a lot of talent, and excited about it. Excited about it. Four periods now with Barzel, back with Horvette. Just what are you seeing between those two? Barzi played a really good game. I mean, come on. The the one on two that that he blocked there, that was pretty impressive. I mean, the commitment that he made there made me proud of him. I mean, he’s he’s I know he’s capable of playing that 200 ft game and he did and he was very dangerous offensively. Made a great pass in the first period. Gave ainman a really good scoring chance. I thought that their line was good. He didn’t have as much ice time than normal because he play around 16 minutes some. But what he did for the team is the leadership that we need from him. Seems like Homes from the last handful of games looks like the Homes from last year. Just what have you seen differently in his game? I have one word in mind is wow. I mean, it’s it’s it’s um it’s fun to see how he he him and Pager, I mean, play so well together and the PK and then even on a five on five that line with Anders going around the net and possessing the puck and having him I mean, scoring that goal at the end. I mean, it was it was nice to see guys be rewarded the way they’re playing because sometimes, you know, it doesn’t happen.

Hear from Matthew Schaefer, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle Palmieri, and Patrick Roy after tonight’s win vs Columbus.