Isles Fix Giveaway: Congrats to our winner “rc***bt”!
Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Patrick Roy didn’t whisper it. He didn’t dress it up. During Thursday morning’s skate, the Islanders’ head coach delivered the kind of line that doesn’t need context or subtitles.
“Let’s end this with a big f—ing win.”
And that’s exactly what the Isles did.
The 3–1 win in New Jersey wasn’t flashy, or dominant, or the kind that ends up on highlight reels in June. It was something better. It was another find-a-way win in a season that’s been built on them. It completed a dominating 8–0–0 season sweep of the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, as the “Titans of the Tri-State” wrapped up a brutal stretch of games, and sent the Islanders into the Winter Olympics break sitting in a playoff position.
Six games in nine days. Eight in 13. Rivalries. Division games. Nights where legs were heavy and margins were thin. The Islanders didn’t cruise through it, but they survived it — and survival, in February, counts for plenty. When the dust settled, they looked at the standings and were satisfied.
That matters.
"A lot of these games [last year], we just kinda found a way to lose,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock. “And this year, we're finding a way to win."
What happens next is always the great unknown. Some teams come back from breaks refreshed and sharp. Others lose rhythm and stumble. Nobody knows which version shows up when play resumes Feb. 26 in Montreal.
But here’s what is known: the Islanders have given themselves a chance. A real one. A season that once felt destined to be about patience, progress, and perspective has shifted into something more urgent — and more familiar.
Winning. Chasing points. Playing meaningful games down the stretch.
Now comes the rare luxury for Islanders fans: three weeks to sit back, catch their breath, and believe. Not hope. Believe.
Let’s dive in.
Game Recap
Bo Horvat snapped a tie late in the third period, and the New York Islanders headed into the Olympic break with a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Horvat won a draw and slipped a backhand past Jake Allen with 3:27 remaining, breaking a 1-1 deadlock. Casey Cizikas opened the scoring midway through the second period, and Mathew Barzal sealed it with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Cizikas made it 1-0 at 6:30 of the second after cleaning up a rebound in front. Allen’s attempt to start a breakout during a Devils line change went awry, leading to a quick Islanders chance that Cizikas finished on the second effort.
New Jersey tied the game later in the period when Nico Hischier beat Ilya Sorokin with a wrist shot off a cross-ice feed from Jesper Bratt. Despite being outshot 24-14, the Islanders leaned on Sorokin and timely execution to close the game strong and secure two important points before the break.
GameScore Impact Card
⏭ NEXT UP: It’s going to be a while. The Islanders don’t play again until they play against Noah Dobson and the Canadiens on February 26 in Montreal.
📊 STANDINGS
Ritchie Returns
Rookie forward Cal Ritchie returned to the Islanders’ lineup Thursday night, after missing the past six games with a lower-body injury sustained Jan. 24.
“For him to play tonight, I think it’s a good boost for our team,” Roy said. “He was playing really good hockey before he got hurt. It’s nice to see him back, and hopefully he’ll feel comfortable playing with Drouin and Heineman.”
Ritchie’s return had initially been targeted for after the Olympic break, but his progress over the past few days accelerated the timeline. “It’s been a slow progression each day, but every day I felt a lot better,” Ritchie said. “Today is kind of the first day where I really feel like I can play, so I’m excited.”
Anthony Duclair was scratched after logging just 3:04 and being benched after the first period of the last game: "He's been perfect. He'll be fine. I have zero worries, concern about him."
No Comparison
The Islanders’ recent trade of Ondrej Palat for Max Tsyplakov was never meant to be a like-for-like swap, writes Andrew Gross in Newsday. It was about urgency—and clarity—during a playoff push. Islanders GM Mathieu Darche acknowledged that reality, opting for certainty over projection as the season heads into its final stretch.
Since arriving, Palat has quickly shown what the Isles lacked: reliable two-way play, puck retrieval, physicality, and playoff-tested composure. Slotted alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, Palat has fit seamlessly. “He’s such a smart player,” Horvat said. “He might not be the flashiest, but the little plays he makes don’t go unnoticed in here.”
That dependability mattered, especially as coach Patrick Roy continues to hold players accountable. Anthony Duclair was scratched Thursday after defensive lapses earlier in the week—something unlikely with Palat, whose game is built on detail and responsibility.
Tsyplakov, meanwhile, never fully found his NHL footing with the Islanders. A productive scorer in the KHL, his offensive touch didn’t translate consistently, and his ice time dwindled. Tsyplakov felt the Isles tried to reshape his game without giving him enough opportunity. “I don’t have a lot of chance to show what I can do,” he said after the trade. “But I know I can bring skills and points.”
Darche sympathized but stayed pragmatic. “We gave him opportunities,” Darche said. “Maybe his confidence was down… but we’re in the business of winning games.” With 24 games remaining after the Olympic break, waiting was no longer an option. In Palat, the Islanders gained exactly what they needed now—a proven, playoff-ready winger who plays the right way.
Warm Welcome
Devils fans may have been overjoyed that Palat’s $6M AAV salary was moved in the trade with the Islanders, but that didn’t mean they didn’t appreciate his contributions while in New Jersey. The team played a tribute video, and the fans gave him a nice ovation during the first period TV timeout.
📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, the Isles had only 14 shots on goal; it is their fewest since they (also) had 14 against Vegas on February 4, 2025. Only seven of those shots came in the first 40 minutes, marking the first time since February 20, 2019 (at Calgary) that they were held to seven or fewer through two periods. The Isles had only two power plays in the season series, but won all four games by a combined 17-4 score.
🎥 ISLES REWIND: On Feb. 6, 2020, rookie Kieffer Bellows scored his first two goals to help the Islanders rally for a 5-3 win over the last-place Los Angeles Kings at Barclays Center. Anders Lee had a goal and an assist, and Michael Dal Colle and Matt Martin also scored as the Islanders recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the second period to get their third win in five games (3-0-2). Derick Brassard had two assists, and Thomas Greiss stopped 22 shots.
📺 Islanders Success, Sorokin’s Vezina Run & Schaefer’s Future - w/ Cal Clutterbuck
🔗 Islanders’ Patrick Roy maintains Anthony Duclair ‘will be fine’ despite benchings, scratches by Joe Pantorno, AMNY “Anthony Duclair was benched mid-game for the second time in seven outings during the New York Islanders’ 5-4 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. For Thursday night’s final game before the three-week Winter Olympic break, he was scratched from the lineup by head coach Patrick Roy, who opted to go for Calum Ritchie after an ahead-of-schedule recovery from a lower-body injury.”
🔗 NY Islanders Daniil Prokhorov named VHL Rookie of the Month in Russia by Mike Stahurski, Eyes on Isles “Prohorov has really found his groove. He was named the VHL Rookie of the Month for January, recording seven goals and six assists in 10 games. Despite playing half the games as many of his teammates, Prokhorov is among the leading point producers for St. Petersburg, totalling 18 points (9 G, 9 A) in 22 games.”
And we leave you with this…the “Clutter” Smash burger has come to Garden City
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