Islanders will finally play Kyle Palmieri on the top line

We all thought that when the New York Islanders acquired Kyle Palmieri at the 2021 trade deadline that he’d be a fixture of the Islanders top-six through the season and into the playoffs.

The volume shooting right-handed sniper was the perfect acquisition for the Isles. They needed goals in their top six and Palmieri should’ve been able to provide them.

Except that’s not what happened. Like neither of those things. Palmieri has a single goal to his name so far with the Islanders (a power-play goal) and has never really seen the top six since making his way to the Island.

At least one of those will change today.

New York Islanders finally play Kyle Palmieri on the top line

Against the Devils at home, the New York Islanders have placed Kyle Palmieri on the top line next to Mathew Barzal and fellow former Devil and 2021 trade deadline acquisition, Travis Zajac.

Will that equal more production? Ideally!

Again, Palmieri is a volume shooter who thrives on people opening up space on the ice for him. Who better to line him up with than Mathew Barzal? Right?

It’s crazy that it’s taken so long for Palmieri to line up with Barzal, but playing the Devils, who are eliminated from postseason contention, should be the perfect remedy.

Other Lineup Decision

Barry Trotz indicated more players will be rested as the Islanders head to the postseason for the third time in three seasons. The last time out Mathew Barzal, Matt Martin, and Leo Komarov were healthy scratches.

Today, Andy Greene, Jordan Eberle, and Leo Komarov will be healthy scratches for the Islanders.

Resting Jordan Eberle and Greene makes a ton of sense. Eberle hasn’t been his best in a while now, maybe a rest gets him back to his best. For 37-year-old Andy Greene, it will allow him to refresh a bit as he preps for what is hopefully a deep playoff run.