As a reward for their valiant effort Thursday in Minnesota to knock off the Western Conference chief in factors, the Islanders next host back-to-back dates with the league’s two leaders in factors share. Before the reigning champions come to UBS Arena late next week, they’ll begin with Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Saturday afternoon. 

Such is the relentlessness of an NHL season, but as three-game homestands go, the Oilers, Hurricanes and Devils — the latter having added all-world goaltender Connor Hellebuyck last week to stage up a notch — is about as robust a week as any workforce could face. 

The Islanders have gotten factors in seven of their last eight and stored their sport at a excessive stage despite an damage pile-up, with Ryan Pulock added Thursday. The last two of these matches, which came on the street at Nashville and Minnesota, were two of their most convincing 60 minutes. 

Scott Mayfield, Anthony Duclair and teammates have fun with Ilya Sorokin after Matthew Schaefer’s additional time purpose in Saint Paul, Minn., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It is as if the hockey gods laughed and advised the Islanders to go show it some more. 

“I think we just gotta keep it rolling,” Matthew Schaefer said after scoring the additional time winner to down the Wild in St. Paul, Minn. “Learn from this road trip and keep going.” 

Easier said than finished, of course. 

If Pulock is unable to go Saturday, as expected, the Islanders possible will insert Matt Kessel into the lineup. They had not called anyone up as of Friday afternoon, an indication they could begin the homestand with just 12 wholesome forwards and six wholesome defensemen on their roster. 

The motive to believe they can get away with it against some of the league’s finest offenses, beginning with the McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard-led Oilers —whose 9-2-2 begin has established them as Stanley Cup contenders under coach Mike Babcock — lies in the means the Islanders have embraced Pete DeBoer’s system. 

“I think it starts with our leaders in here,” defenseman Logan Stanley said. “You look at a guy like Bo Horvat, Brayden Schenn, [Kyle Palmieri]. They’re playing the right way. When guys see that, it forces them to play the right way too. Pete’s got a great system in place for us. When those guys lead the way, everyone follows.” 

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, left, celebrates with middle Jean-Gabriel Pageau after scoring an additional time purpose, Oct. 29, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. AP Photo/Abbie Parr

While the Islanders held their own Thursday against what has statistically been the finest ahead line in hockey — Minnesota’s trio of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy — Edmonton’s high line of McDavid, Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin has averaged a ridiculous 6.04 targets per 60 minutes, with McDavid on a record-torching 232-point tempo. 

Another juicy Saturday subplot: After Schaefer got the higher of Quinn Hughes on Thursday, how will he fare against Bouchard, the clubhouse chief for the Norris Trophy proper now? With the Islanders at dwelling, it’s possible DeBoer will need Schaefer matched up against Bouchard and the Oilers high line as much as doable. 

Matthew Schaefer, Bo Horvat, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn of the New York Islanders have fun a purpose, Oct. 29, 2026, in Saint Paul, Minn. NHLI via Getty Images

Reigning champion Carolina is not loaded with superstars in the same means, but the Hurricanes’ pressure-heavy system has given the Islanders matches in current years — the Hurricanes swept the season collection last 12 months, including a 4-3 win in Raleigh, N.C., that prompted normal supervisor Mathieu Darche to swap Patrick Roy for DeBoer behind the bench. 

Now the Islanders have a fashion they’re beginning to believe in the same means as Rod Brind’Amour’s membership. 

“When we’re in those systems playing Islanders hockey, no one can play against us,” Schaefer said Thursday. “It’s tough to play against. It frustrates the other team. So I think we just stuck to our game there [against the Wild] from start to finish. We played some good hockey.” 

Keep on doing it at dwelling and the relaxation of the league might cease and take discover.