NY Islanders Aim to Extend Win Streak as Jakub Skarek Makes NHL Debut vs. Panthers

New York Islanders v Florida Panthers
New York Islanders v Florida Panthers | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

The New York Islanders (24-20-7) look to extend their winning streak to eight games against the Florida Panthers (31-19-3) at Amerant Bank Arena. The Isles are playing the second half of a back-to-back, having defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 overtime on Saturday night. New York is already down several regulars with injuries and could be without Scott Mayfield and Mathew Barzal, who were both hurt in the win. Meanwhile, forward Anthony Duclair missed the previous game due to illness. More information is expected closer to puck drop.

Islanders’ Recent Performance

The Islanders come into this game riding a wave of momentum, having won seven straight games. Strong goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, timely goal-scoring, and an improved penalty kill have fueled their resurgence. Kyle Palmieri has scored goals in his last two games, and recent acquisitions by Tony DeAngeloScott Perunovich, and Adam Boqvist have already impacted the blue line. Each collected points in his first game, with DeAngelo and Boqvist each scoring vs. the Lightning. Boqvist will be skating against the team that put him on waivers last week.

Boqvist
Feb 1, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Adam Boqvist (34) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

NHL Debut Between The Pipes

Jakub Skarek will reach a significant milestone in his hockey career, making his first NHL start. The 24-year-old goaltender, drafted by the Islanders in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, has spent the past few seasons developing in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. Skarek has a 49-82-17 record for his AHL career with a 3.30 GAA, a .892 SV%, and five shutouts.

Jakub Skarek
New Jersey Devils v New York Islanders | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

Panthers’ Outlook

The Stanley Cup champion Panthers continue to be one of the top teams in the East, boasting a dangerous mix of skill and physicality. Led by Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Reinhart, Florida possesses one of the league’s deepest offenses. Reinhart leads the team with 30 goals and 57 points. Meanwhile, Tkachuk has seven points in the last four games (3G, 4A). Spencer Knight is expected to start in goal for the Panthers, who also played on Saturday. Knight is 9-8-1 this season with a 2.47 GAA, a .905 SV%, and two shutouts.

Schedule