Something To Prove, Gm 1: Islanders vs. Panthers, Line Combos, & More

The New York Islanders kick off their 50th anniversary season with a Thursday nightcap against the reigning President Trophy-winning Florida Panthers. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM at UBS Arena.

“The past is the past, and I think, without saying it, guys are really ready and feel like they’ve got something, sort of unfinished business, that they’d like to prove,” New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert shared following the morning skate.

“Just last night and even this morning, you still get the butterflies and the excitement of the home opener or the opening game. It’s always great. Regardless if it’s your first year or your 10th,” Zach Parise told NYI Hockey Now. The first game is always exciting.”

The New York Islanders ran the same forward lines we have seen through practice at Islanders’ morning skate. The defense rotated around, but Scott Mayfield is expected to be in the lineup.

Oliver Wahlstrom (day-to-day) and Cal Clutterbuck (IR) skated with Ross Johnston and Sebastian Aho, as we are expecting those four will be the scratches for tonight.

Ilya Sorokin was the first goaltender off the ice at New York Islanders morning skate, and head coach Lane Lambert shared that he will start in goal against the Panthers.

Jameson Olive reported on Wednesday that Sergei Bobrovsky would start in goal for the Florida Panthers.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)

Zach Parise — Mathew Barzal — Kyle Palmieri

Anders Lee — Brock Nelson — Anthony Beauvillier

Kieffer Bellows — Jean-Gabriel Pageau —Josh Bailey

Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Nikita Soshnikov

Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock

Alexander Romanov — Noah Dobson

Robin Salo — Scott Mayfield

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov

FLORIDA PANTHERS LINES (PROJECTED)

Connor Verhaeghe— Sasha Barkov — Sam Reinhart

Matt Tkachuk— Sam Bennett — Rudolfs Balcers

Eetu Luostarinen — Anton Lundell— Colin White

Ryan Lomberg — Nick Cousins — Patric Hornqvist

Gustav Forsling — Aaron Ekblad

Marc Staal — Brandon Montour

Josh Mahura — Radko Gudas

Sergei Bobrovsky

Spencer Knight

GAME NOTES

The New York Islanders open the 2022-23 regular season against the Florida Panthers. Tonight is the first of three meetings between the Panthers and Islanders this season. The last time these teams met was April 19, 2022, at UBS Arena. Tonight’s game is the third time in franchise history that the Islanders have played their season-opener against the Panthers (1-1-0) and the first since October 8, 2011.

The Islanders are 13-25-11 on opening night, and tonight’s game is the first time they have opened their season at home since
October 4, 2019 (Washington).

BETTING CORNER

Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Florida Panthers tonight on home ice? You can get the Islanders at plus money at +115, -225 at +1.5. The Panthers are the road favorites at -135, +190 on the puck line.

The over for the contest is 6, coming in at -110, with the under also at -110.

Brock Nelson has been money in the month of October and if you think he lights the lamp tonight, get him at +155.

Head over to DraftKings to place your bets now!

HOW TO WATCH

Saturday’s contest will be available on MSGSN for local viewers. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.