NY Islanders Return from Break, Face High-Powered Dallas Stars at UBS Arena

After a 14-day layoff, the New York Islanders return to action on Sunday night to take on the Dallas Stars at UBS Arena. The Islanders last played on Feb. 8, suffering a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild before the NHL paused for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Kyle Palmieri, Brock Nelson (1G, 1A), and captain Anders Lee scored in that game, while Ilya Sorokin made 28 saves.

Dallas, currently second in the Central Division and third in the NHL with 74 points, enters the game riding strong momentum. The Stars are coming off a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night, with goals from Evgenii Dadonov, Thomas Harley, Matt Duchene (1G, 1A), and Wyatt Johnston (1G, 1A). Casey DeSmith made 31 saves in the win, though Jake Oettinger is expected to start against the Islanders. Oettinger has been outstanding this season, posting a 26-12-2 record, a 2.35 GAA, and a .911 SV%.

Season Series & Islanders Outlook

The Islanders are looking to even the season series after dropping a 3-0 decision to Dallas on Oct. 12. However, they have had success against the Stars at home, going 3-0-1 in their last four matchups at UBS Arena.

Before the break, the Islanders were surging, going 8-3-0 in their last 11 games, including a seven-game winning streak that vaulted them into the wild-card race. They enter Sunday with 57 points, five behind Detroit and Ottawa for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Brock Nelson was the lone Islander who did not have a full break, representing Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he reached the championship game before falling to Canada in overtime.

Islanders Key Players & Lineup Updates

• Ilya Sorokin is expected to start in goal, carrying a 20-16-4 record, a 2.69 GAA, and a .908 SV%.
• Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield are set to return from injuries, while Noah Dobson is nearing a comeback but remains on LTIR.
• Anders Lee leads the team with 23 goals and 41 points.

Stars to Watch

• Matt Duchene is having a strong season, leading Dallas with 23 goals and 57 points. The veteran forward was on fire before the break, notching consecutive three-point games.
• Jason Robertson, two years removed from a 109-point campaign, has 20 goals and 51 points through 56 games.
• Wyatt Johnston, in just his third NHL season, has 49 points (17G, 32A) after posting a career-high 65 points last year.
• Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci, acquired at the trade deadline from San Jose, have settled in well. Granlund has four assists in five games with the Stars, while Ceci has added an assist.

The Islanders look to shake off rust quickly as they face a strong Dallas team playing on consecutive nights. With playoff positioning on the line for both teams, the Isles will have their hands full in what promises to be a challenging matchup at UBS Arena.