Mar 14, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders right wing Simon Holmstrom (92) celebrates his second goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Simon Holmstrom has continued to piece it all together after a slow statistical start to the 2025-26 season, despite head coach Patrick Roy’s protests that he was doing nearly everything else right on the ice.
After scoring just four goals in his first 29 games, the New York Islanders’ 24-year-old right-winger has 12 goals in his last 36 games, including a pair in Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at UBS Arena.
That’s a full-season pace of 27 goals — the kind of production that would exceed almost anyone’s expectations even after potting 20 goals last season.
But perhaps the most encouraging sign of Holmstrom’s big night was that it came with a different center.
For a player who has been practically connected to the hip of veteran center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, whether that be on New York’s third line or on the penalty kill, Holmstrom got a look on the Islanders’ second line on Saturday night alongside new acquisition and veteran center Brayden Schenn, along with Anthony Duclair. Both had assists — Schenn’s second since being acquired by the Islanders from the St. Louis Blues, and Duclair’s first point since Jan. 31 while contending with multiple benchings.
For Roy, there is the promise of flexibility as he tries to figure out the best configuration of his top three lines — something that has eluded him since Kyle Palmieri went down in November with a season-ending injury.
Holmstrom on the second line puts Cal Ritchie on the third unit alongside Anders Lee and Pageau. Emil Heineman scored twice in Friday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Kings while on the top line, and Ondrej Palat put forth a strong showing on the fourth line with Casey Cizikas and Kyle MacLean.
“It gives us four very good lines,” Roy said. “Having [Holmstrom] play with Schenn, I thought that was giving us scoring from that line, A, and B, feeling comfortable that they can defend very well. That’s what they did. Yes, we count a lot on [Bo Horvat’s top] line… that’s what we’re going to need, scoring from pretty much everybody on our team to keep having success.”
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