If you’re looking for a blueprint on how to start a road trip, decimating a division rival 9-0 is certainly one way to do it.
The New York Islanders boarded their flight to Nashville riding the high of one of the most lopsided victories in franchise history. The rout of the New Jersey Devils wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. But as any veteran in this league will tell you, the NHL has a short memory. The historic blowout means nothing once the puck drops tonight at Bridgestone Arena.
Now, head coach Patrick Roy’s squad faces a much stiffer test: a seven-game, 13-day odyssey that will likely serve as the season’s defining pivot point. They sit second in the Metropolitan Division, but the view is precarious. With the Philadelphia Flyers breathing down their necks—trailing by a single point—and the Washington Capitals looming nearby, the margin for error is effectively zero.
This isn’t just a road trip; it’s a stress test for a roster that is battered, bruised, but somehow, still winning.
The King Reclaims His Throne
The most reassuring sight for the Islanders faithful wasn’t the nine goals on the scoreboard against New Jersey; it was the man in the crease. Ilya Sorokin’s return from a lower-body injury was nothing short of spectacular. Forty-four saves. A shutout. A franchise record broken.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
By surpassing Chico Resch for the most shutouts in Islanders history, Sorokin didn’t just etch his name in the books; he reminded the rest of the league that when he is healthy, he is the ultimate equalizer.
However, the coaching staff now faces a delicate balancing act. Sorokin looked sharp, yes, but he’s fresh off the injured list. Asking him to shoulder the bulk of a seven-game slog over two weeks is a gamble. The temptation to ride the hot hand is strong, especially with points at a premium, but managing his workload alongside David Rittich will be crucial. We’ve seen what a healthy Sorokin can do—burning him out in January would be a tactical failure.
Captain Down, But the Team’s Not Out
The euphoria of the Devils win was tempered by one glaring absence: Bo Horvat.
The captain and leading goalscorer is officially out for tonight’s clash against the Nashville Predators. While reports suggest he will rejoin the lineup later in the trip, his absence tonight leaves a significant void down the middle. Horvat is the engine of this offense, a player who drives possession and plays the heavy minutes in all situations.
Related – Duclair’s Hat Trick Propels Islanders to 9-0 Victory Over Devils
In his absence, the spotlight turns to the depth forwards. The Islanders can’t rely on another nine-goal explosion to mask defensive holes. Without Horvat’s two-way stabilizing presence, the neutral zone battle becomes much harder. The team needs the bottom six to tread water and play low-event hockey until their leader returns.
The Youth and The Hot Hand
Injuries usually force a team to simplify, but in New York’s case, they’ve also opened the door for creativity. Enter Matthew Schaefer. His overtime winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs was a flash of brilliance, but his consistency is what impresses most. With Alexander Romanov sidelined for months, Schaefer has stepped into a puck-moving role that usually takes defensemen years to master. He’s providing a dynamic element from the back end that this team has sorely lacked in recent years.
New York Islanders left wing Anthony Duclair celebrates hit 3rd goal of the game against the New Jersey Devils (Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)
Up front, Anthony Duclair has chosen the perfect time to catch fire. A five-point night is a career highlight for anyone, but for Duclair, it’s a signal that he’s found his rhythm. With Kyle Palmieri out for the season, the Islanders are desperate for scoring from the wing. Duclair’s speed pushes defenders back, creating the kind of space the Islanders struggle to generate when they play a slower, grinding game. If he can maintain even half of this production, the Horvat injury becomes manageable.
Exorcising the Nashville Demons
Tonight is about more than just momentum; it’s about breaking a pattern.
Bridgestone Arena has been a house of horrors for the Islanders. They haven’t won in their last six visits to Nashville, and they’ve dropped 10 of the last 12 matchups overall against the Predators. There is something about the Predators’ forecheck that seems to dismantle the Islanders’ breakout schemes.
Related – Islanders Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Horvat, Sorokin, Schaefer and More
Nashville might be sitting outside the playoff picture in the West, but they are a rested team playing their first home game in weeks. They will be hungry and energized. If New York comes out expecting another cakewalk, they will get run out of the building.
The Bottom Line
This road trip is a gauntlet. Seven road games in 13 days is a schedule loss waiting to happen if the team isn’t disciplined.
If the Islanders return to Long Island in two weeks with a .500 record on the trip or better, they should consider it a success. That would keep them in the thick of the Metro race and buy time for Horvat to heal. Anything less, and they risk sliding into the murky waters of the Wild Card chase—a position no team wants to be in as the trade deadline approaches.
The 9-0 win was fun. Tonight, the real work begins.
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