Pregame: Islanders Battle Kings In Final Game Before 2026 NHL Trade Deadline
The Islanders are looking to rebound after a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
LOS ANGELES — The New York Islanders (35-22-5) battle the Los Angeles Kings (24-22-14) tonight at 6:30 PM PT. This is the second of a back-to-back with the Islanders falling 5-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
Tonight is the final game before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Ilya Sorokin goes for the Islanders after David Rittich made 21 saves on 25 shots in last night’s loss.
Defenseman Ryan Pulock, who did not play last night due to an upper-body injury, could return to the lineup. We will have to wait and see what head coach Patrick Roy has to say when we speak with him at 5:10 ET.
If Pulock isn’t feeling 100%, it’s understandable why the Islanders didn’t want to play him on back-to-back nights. I could see him playing tonight, but again, we shall see.
Here’s the projected lineup:
Ondrej Palat — Bo Horvat — Mathew Barzal
Jonathan Drouin — Cal Ritchie — Emil Heineman
Anders Lee — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean — Casey Cizikas — Marc Gatcomb
Matthew Schaefer — Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech — Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy — Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
The Islanders can move ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and take sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division if:
The Islanders get a point, and Pittsburgh loses in regulation to the Buffalo Sabres
The Islanders win in regulation and Pittsburgh loses in regulation or overtime
Other teams are trying to fleece Islanders, unless the price goes down Darche will skip. Colton P nixing the trade to Sabers puts a shit load of pressure on Doug Armstrong. These Blues Players earned the Trade Protection. I don’t think Kyrou or Thomas would block a trade to the Island if it comes to that.
Time for Jonathan Drouin to take a break in the press box ! He has been a bigger bust than DuClair, and that’s saying something! Maybe 🤔 time to give Shabby another shot. Alex Jefferies is down in Bridgeport next man up. Forget Darche acquiring talent, maybe just off loading some of our underperforming players.