Game Preview: Utah Hockey Club at New York Islanders (Game 1)

The New York Islanders will host the Utah Hockey Club at UBS Arena, marking the first-ever meeting between these two clubs. The Islanders open the season, hoping to get off on the right foot with the Hockey Club (1-0-0) coming off a win in their first game against the Chicago Blackhawks.  

The matchup between Inter-conference teams promises to be an entertaining one as the high-flying Hockey Club features a fast-paced, up-tempo style that will be challenging for the Isles to match.

However, the Islanders have their own high-octane top line featuring speedster Anthony Duclair. The Hockey Club will need to deal with four solid lines from the Isles, making this matchup a much more challenging one than the game against the Blackhawks.

Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm EST. Fans can catch the game on ESPN and ESPN+.

LAST GAME

The New York Islanders got a big win in their last preseason game 5-2 over rival New York Rangers. Bo Horvat led the way with two goals. Mathew Barzal had a huge night with five points (1G, 4A), with Anthony Duclair adding a goal and two assists. Semyon Varlamov had a good start, making 20 saves on 22 shots. The Isles played a solid, all-around game, making it tough for the Rangers to get anything going.

Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club won their inaugural game, getting a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks with two goals from Dylan Guenther and one from captain Clayton Keller. The game was close for most of the third period, as the Utah Hockey Club clung to a 3-2 lead. But then, the Hockey Club pulled away with an empty-netter and another tally in the final minute. The Hockey club will be looking to earn their first win streak in team history.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

Thursday night’s game marks the first-ever meeting between these two clubs. However, the players on both sides are hardly strangers. The two sides met last season when the Utah Hockey Club was known as the Arizona Coyotes.

The Islanders and Coyotes met twice during the regular season, with the Isles taking both games. The Isles won a tight 1-0 game on October 17, 2023. The Isles swept the season series with a convincing 5-1 win at home on January 4, 2024.

Now as the Utah Hockey Club, the team will look to get revenge on last season’s sweep, while the Islanders will look to keep the streak rolling.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The biggest name to watch on the Isles’ side is Maxim Tsyplakov. Tsyplakov was a standout in training camp, proving he belongs in the NHL. Similarly, newcomer Anthony Duclair will be looking to showcase the talents that earned him a four-year deal on The Island.

Other Islanders’ to watch include Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, and Noah Dobson. The trio will be looking to pack on the numbers this season, playing a high-intensity style. Also, Isles coach Patrick Roy stated that Semyon Varlamov is expected to get the start in goal.

As for the Hockey Club, captain Clayton Keller leads a talented young core that includes Guenther, Logan Cooley, and Lawson Crouse. Veterans such as Mikhail Sergachev will be looking to balance Utah’s lineup, providing leadership and solid play.