New York Islanders Have a Killer October Schedule

The New York Islanders will enter the 2018-19 season with a lot of key changes. However, the NHL schedule makers didn’t make things easy for the blue and orange out of the gate with a killer October schedule.

The New York Islanders will need to hit the ground running to start the season with this brutally difficult schedule. Another wrinkle to consider is the players will be playing under a new system put together by Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello.

How tough is the Islanders schedule in October? Of the Isles first 12 games (the 12th game is on November 1st) only four are at home, while eight are on the road. October includes a nasty four-game road trip with stops in Nashville, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Jose.

In the Isles first 12 games, they will play the Predators, Sharks, and the Penguins each twice. In addition to visiting the California teams, the Isles will also go to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Yikes!

Positives of a Tough Opening Schedule

The positives of a tough opening schedule come November is the Isles will have a lot more home games ahead of them then road contests. They also will be done with Nashville and San Jose, as well as completed the California trip. In addition, they will have only two games left with the Penguins (Isles fourth and last regular season game against Pittsburgh is December 10th).

A positive for being on the road for much of October is it gives time for the 2018-19 Islanders to bond with each other, as well with the new coaching staff. While a lot of the Islander players from last year are returning with John Tavares now gone and with Trotz and Lamoriello here this is very much a new team.

0.500 Record

If the Islanders can start off as a .500 hockey club through their first 12 games, they could be in really good shape. Every Islander fan should sign up for 12 points in the Isles first 12 games.

A 500 start could set the Islanders up to be one of the surprise teams in the NHL this season. This tough schedule to begin the season could also make the Islanders laser focused come opening night. It’s possible that focus they could carry throughout the season.

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Having said all that this October schedule can also give the Islanders a poor record come early November. The number of road games they have, as well as the competition they face, the Isles need to be at their best from game one forward.

However, if the Isles can get through this opening stretch, Lou and Trotz could have the team in a very favorable position moving forward.