Islanders Gameday: New era opens in Pittsburgh

Thet Islanders kick off the Mathew, Mathieu and Matthew era in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins have their home opener after shutting out the Ranjahs at the Garden in the season opener.

Major changes from last season include switching Mathew Barzal back to center, introducing first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer for his NHL debut (while Noah Dobson does his thing in Montreal), all under the guidance of new GM Mathiu Darche.

Emil Heineman (part of the Dobson trade), Max Shabanov and free agent signing (and new #29 wearer) Jonathan Drouin are the other primary newcomers, while the Isles begin a season without Brock Nelson for the first time since 2013.

Here’s how they’re expected to line up:

Drouin – Horvat – Heineman
Lee – Barzal – Palmieri
Shabanov – Pageau – Holmstrom
Duclair – Cizikas – Tsyplakov
MacLean – Gatcomb

Pelech – Pulock
Romanov – DeAngelo
Schaefer – Mayfield
Boqvist