On Thanksgiving morning, the New York Islanders (8-10-5) found themselves in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference, having won only eight of their 23 games. It’s been a tough season, but at least they didn’t lose a third-period lead yesterday, although they still gave up three goals in that period against a team that had played the night before.
Despite the team’s struggles, there are still reasons to be thankful today, even for the Islanders.
Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri have both tallied 10 goals in the first 23 games, with Nelson accumulating 17 points and Palmieri 19. Their contributions have been crucial in keeping the team competitive. Nelson has climbed to ninth all-time in franchise points, surpassing John Tonelli, and is closing in on both Brent Sutter and Pat Lafontaine in career goals with 285.
Palmieri’s effectiveness under Head Coach Patrick Roy has been notable, and fans should appreciate the dynamic pairing of him and Nelson.
Returning soon are Anthony Duclair and Adam Pelech. Recently, the team has struggled, losing five of their last six games, particularly in the third period. Scoring has become a challenge for players other than Nelson and Palmieri, with Oliver Wahlstrom not stepping up as expected and Kyle MacLean regressing from last season’s performance. Bo Horvat has only five goals, including just one in his last 12 games, and he is in desperate need of his linemates, specifically Duclair, who recently began skating and is nearing a return after being injured early in the season. Pelech, also returning to the ice, will provide much-needed stability to the defense.
Although the Islanders find themselves in a tough spot after 23 games, it’s still early in the season, with plenty of time to recover and potentially make a playoff push, as they are only three points away from a playoff spot. The return of Duclair, Pelech, and eventually Mat Barzal will be significant for the team.
One positive aspect of the Islanders is their resilience; they continue to fight hard and refuse to give up. Despite the current challenges, the returning players will make a difference.
Happy Thanksgiving to all Islanders fans!
