The Islanders start a string of three straight games at UBS Arena – and five of their next six – with their home opener on Saturday night against the Capitals coming off Thursday night’s well-played 4-3 loss in Pittsburgh in their season opener.
Here are three takeaways from the first game:
1. Jonathan Drouin got himself suspended
The NHL on Friday handed free-agent signee Jonathan Drouin a one-game suspension for his two-hand stick smack to the face of the Penguins’ Connor Dewar late in the third period following a post-whistle scrum as the Islanders skated six-on-five pushing for the tying goal. He’s eligible to return Monday afternoon against the Jets.
Drouin, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal after notching 11 goals and 26 assists in 43 games last season for the Avalanche, brought the Islanders into a 1-1 tie at 12:02 of the first period as he skated on Bo Horvat’s left wing with Emil Heineman.
He had a running battle all game with defenseman Parker Wotherspoon. His frustration boiled over after his sharp-angle shot with 14.2 seconds left was stopped and he took an unnecessary retaliation shot at Dewar, earning a five-minute major for cross checking and a game misconduct.
Marc Gatcomb likely will draw into the lineup against the Capitals with either Anthony Duclair or rookie Max Shabanov being elevated to Horvat’s line.
2. They’re a faster team
The additions of No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, Drouin, Shabanov, Heineman and a healthy Duclair and Mathew Barzal allow the Islanders to play with much better pace than last season. Kyle Palmieri and Horvat, too, were noticeable in how well they skated.
Overall, the puck moved crisply and the Islanders were able to transition up ice well. When rookie Cal Ritchie and perhaps Pierre Engvall are healthy, it will make them faster still.
It’s a necessity in the NHL.
“Definitely we had some good pace, especially early on,” said Duclair, who injured his groin five games into last season and was hindered the rest of the season after he returned. “Yeah, some speed. That’s what we’re looking to do all year. I think most games in the year, if we play like that, we’re going to end up with the win.”
3. Um, about that special teams improvement …
The Islanders clearly targeted improving their woeful special teams over the offseason – importing Drouin and Shabanov to be flank options on the man advantage and hiring new assistants Ray Bennett and Bob Boughner to run the units, respectively. Both the power play and the penalty kill finished 31st in the 32-team NHL last season.
The power play was better against the Penguins in terms of puck movement and zone entries. Still, it went 0-for-3 in a one-goal loss, a familiar shade from last season. Worse, the Penguins went 2-for-5 on the power play, including a four-on-three goal. It was the difference in the game.
“Penalty killing was good,” coach Patrick Roy said. “We just need to be a little bit better around our net, clear the net front. That’s how they scored their two goals.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.