With an already difficult 13-game road trip for the Islanders to begin their season, a slow start does not help their cause. After dropping their season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes and then their next game against the Florida Panthers, the Islanders need to start winning games desperately. Although it is concerning, there is no room for panic. Let’s dive deeper into the two games the Islanders have played prior to Tuesday.

Oct. 14- New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes

The Islanders started their 2021-22 campaign in Raleigh when they took on the Carolina Hurricanes. Ilya Sorokin started in net for the Islanders with Semyon Varlamov out with soreness. It all looked good for the Islanders to start as Mathew Barzal opened the scoring giving the Islanders an early lead. Soon after, the Canes tied it up and did not stop scoring. It ended in a 6-3 win for the Hurricanes. The Islanders showed promise, but just playing mediocre against a favorite to win the Metropolitan Divison was not going to cut it.

Oct. 16- New York Islanders @ Florida Panthers

The Islanders were looking for a bounce-back win against the Florida Panthers after an opening night loss to the Hurricanes. Sorokin started in net again with Varlamov still out with soreness. It did not pan out the way the Islanders wanted it to. The Panthers opened the scoring early, taking a 3-0 lead before Oliver Wahlstrom responded, cutting the deficit to two. It wasn’t enough. The Islanders lost 5-1, dropping their second straight game to start the season. Islanders newly acquired defenseman Zdeno Chara was on the ice for four of the five goals scored by the Panthers.

Looking Ahead

Four big and very winnable games are ahead for the blue and orange this week. If they win three, they will be .500.

Jacob

Writer for Drive4Five covering the New York Islanders.