Happy Thanksgiving: Three Things for the Islanders to be Thankful For

The New York Islanders (8-10-5) woke up this Thanksgiving morning in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. They’ve played 23 games and have only won eight. Look, it’s been just about as bad as it could be. Perhaps the only positive from yesterday came solely from the fact that the Islanders didn’t blow a third-period lead.

They still allowed three third-period goals to a team that played the previous night in a different city, but hey, at least the scoreboard said 3-3 entering the third.

Despite all the negativity swirling around this team, on a day like today, it’s best to remember there are still things to be grateful for and give thanks—even for the New York Islanders.

Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri:

Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri both have 10 goals in the first 23 games. Nelson’s up to 17 points, with Palmieri at 19. The duo has almost singlehandedly kept the Islanders competitive in recent games, racking up the goals and assists that bring the Islanders into competitiveness.

Nelson is now ninth all-time in points scored in franchise history, having passed John Tonelli. He’s 18 points behind Pat Lafontaine for eighth. Nelson is also up to 285 career goals, two back of Brent Sutter and Lafontaine at 287, tied for fifth in team history.

If Nelson remains with the Islanders for the rest of the season, which is now officially an if, he can pass Clark Gillies for fourth at 304 and maybe even Denis Potvin for third all-time at 310.

Palmieri’s strengths under Head Coach Patrick Roy have been well documented, and every Islander fan can be thankful for the lethal combination of him and Nelson.

Anthony Duclair (and Adam Pelech) Return Soon:

Until the last week or so, the Islanders had been treading water with the injuries and holding things together. Since then, the team has lost five of their last six in the third period and overtime.

Goals have dried up for anyone not named Nelson or Palmieri, which has severely hurt the Islanders. Oliver Wahlstrom has not shown that he’s an NHL-level player since a strong training camp, and Kyle MacLean has regressed heavily from his form during his arrival last season. After a few hot games, Pierre Engvall and Simon Holmstrom have stopped scoring despite playing OK.

Bo Horvat has five goals in the first 23 games. He’s scored just once in the last 12 games. He needs his linemates back, and the first to return will be Anthony Duclair.

Duclair, the summer’s marquee signing for the Islanders, went down in the fifth game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens and has not played since. Duclair has finally started skating on his own, and his return draws near, and it can’t come soon enough.

Adam Pelech, the Islanders’ shutdown defenseman, has also resumed skating. Despite Isaiah George’s emergence, the steadying Pelech will help the Islanders in late-game scenarios.

It’s a Long Season:

As has been outlined, the Islanders are just not in a good place right now. Through 23 games, the season has gone off the rails in more ways than one. The good news is that it’s only November 28th. They’ll still be playing games into April.

There is absolutely still time for the Islanders to turn it around and rattle off a long win streak to catapult themselves back into contention. After all, they’re currently just three points out of a playoff spot. Gaining back Duclair, Pelech, and eventually Mat Barzal as well will significantly help this team.

One thing this team does do very well is battle hard. They don’t give up and will never say they’re out of it. As low as it feels right now, the returning players will help.

Happy Thanksgiving, Islanders fans.