New York Islanders Pregame Availability | NYI at DAL (11/18/25)

As the road trip goes on, we like to talk about some different guys. And I’m just curious what you’ve noticed in Heineman since he joined your group and and what makes him a dynamic player. Uh yeah, I I like to call him the horse. Just the way, you know, he skates. He’s so strong. Um but before all that, he’s he’s a great person. He’s always has a smile on his face, always laughing. Sometime I even wonder why he’s laughing, but he’s always have a smile and that’s contagious. and uh uh it shows how much fun he’s having after that playing uh for the Islanders and and playing for you know for his teammates. He’s physical. He’s got a great shot, great vision, and uh he’s doing very very well for us. So uh we’re lucky to have him. One of the things he said to me in an interview was he’s like, “Listen, the physical side is part of my game. I don’t go out and I’m not looking to hit somebody, but if they’re there, I’m going to hit them.” Because you’re one of those guys that pays attention to details and and is always willing to hit somebody. Is there an extra level of respect because of how you play your game and what he’s willing to do for his game? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I to be honest, I I respect uh you know, everyone’s game. Everyone’s got a different role, but I think he embraced that that role when when someone’s, you know, um in a position where where he can finish a hit, he does. And that’s something I like to do also. And uh I I truly, you know, I appreciate it. Yeah. With the stars, what what’s the scouting report on? What do you what part of your game has to continue against the Stars? Yeah, we’re going to have to be sharp. Uh neutral zone in our Dzone. Um a lot of top end skill. First two lines are, you know, pretty steady all the way across and like to create and uh great power play. So, um one, got to stay out of the box. Two, um we just got to stay in our structure. I think we’ve been doing a good job. That’s what’s uh you know, given us a chance every night is is being solid structurally. And uh it’s going to be important again here. Is this road trip starting to feel long or do you feel like you’re in a rhythm now? And you know, it’s almost easier to play these seasons. Yeah. No, I mean, I think we’re in a good rhythm. Obviously, we we had a pretty good start to the road trip. um which makes it uh not feel as long. But yeah, you know, you’re you’re gone from home for a little while and it’s uh some long days on the road. But no, I think uh main thing is is um you know, being focused for tonight and um then we’ll worry about what’s ahead and and eventually we’ll get home. With with the goalie decision tonight, I know both of them are coming off good games. Is it just a matter of you don’t want David sitting too long or No. No. Um, Sergey and I, we we we look at the schedule and, um, you know, we feel like we’re playing a lot of games in this month. I think 15 games in 31 days. So, so we feel like the workload is maybe too heavy right now for one guy. Um, especially the fact that we flew in after the game. We got here like 3:00 in the morning in our rooms. So, I mean, um, we feel like it’s It’s important to use both guys and they both playing really well. So, we’re very comfortable and I will be back in the net against Detroit. How do you balance that with obviously Ilia is playing really well right now and I’m sure there’s a temptation to play with him. You know what do do you I guess allow for it’s about the big picture. It’s about the big picture. You know, it’s not just about winning one game. It’s about the big picture. And uh when you have the luxury to have two guys playing that well, obviously I mean it allows you to uh making sure that um they’re both rested when they play. And this is a tough road trip. I mean um we start the three hour to me when I was in Colorado. What I thought it was the toughest part was the time change. The time change so difficult and for and and for especially for one guy. So, I mean, we started in Vegas, we got in late in Utah, now we changed time again, and then we went to Colorado, we changed time again here, and then we’re going to change time again in Detroit. So, I feel like when you’re looking at the big picture, uh it’s it’s important to travel well, which that’s what the team does, and making sure our guys are rested. We didn’t practice in between games. We’re using the morning skate the morning to work on on different things and uh video-wise and um just feel like that’s the best scenario for us to make sure that the team is ready and well prepared for playing a good hockey game. We’ve talked a lot about Emil Heinman and how impressed you’ve been with his game, but what about the way he plays do you think has affected the guys he’s playing with and really made that line so good? Yeah, it’s more question for Bo or or or Pumsy, but um I really love the way he’s playing and and um I got so much trust in him and and because he’s got that physicality um and I feel like right now, I mean, he’s he understands, you know, like the the Dzone coverage, the coming back in the Dzone and the positioning that he has and but he also, I mean, drive that net. He’s around the net. Um, so I mean I guess his confidence is a pretty high level right now because he scored what pretty much in every game. So I’m sure he feels good about himself, but um I’m sure it’s a it’s a treat for anyone to play with him right now. For Matt Schaffer, I’m sure people talk about points a lot, but what do you see on kind of a deeper level that gives you so much confidence in him at this young so much responsibility? I think the way he’s playing is it’s also contagious in the way that he’s quick. Uh he closed quick. he close quick at the blue line. Um, you know, like a lot of times, I mean, those younger guys, I mean, they coming in, they don’t defend very well. I mean, there’s a lot of work to do in that regard. And, and I feel like for him, he’s putting so much pride playing well offensively, but also defensively. So, I mean, it’s he just earned what he he’s been doing. I mean, he’s he’s been playing so well for us. So, I mean, I’m happy to see him be rewarded the way he’s playing, but I think the people um see the points, but I think the people eventually going to see also how well he’s playing without the puck. What would you say over the first 19 games this year is your team’s biggest area of improvement over last season? Um, I’d say I’d say probably our play in a neutral zone. Um, I mean, yeah, I mean, the fact that we’re playing well in a in a neutral zone, we’re not giving as many odd men rush, um, that helps our breakouts and and last year we had maybe a lot of turnovers in our breakout. I think that be helping a lot and um I feel like we um we’re making good decisions uh when it’s time to make a flip out or when it’s time to make a a direct play and supporting each other. So there’s there’s a few areas that we’re doing a lot better. Absolutely. If uh I know it’ll depend on Simon obviously, but if Shabanov is up on that top line, just what do you think he could bring there? um he’s got so much skills, but what I’m impressed with him, it’s how well he’s been defending. Even, you know, like coming back from that injury, you were curious to see how he would uh handle it. And I thought he did a really good job uh against Colorado. Upper body sometimes, you know, could could scare some players. And I feel like he he’s small, but he doesn’t know he’s small. So, he’s been he’s been playing that that that big game and and and and I feel like he defends really well. So, I’m very comfortable to see him play in that role. Uh if Simon’s not playing tonight,

Hear from JG Pageau, Ryan Pulock and Head Coach Patrick Roy ahead of tonight’s game vs the Dallas Stars.

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