5 Moments That Defined the Islanders’ 2023-24 Season

Former head coach Barry Trotz made the team competitive and led the Islanders to two deep playoff runs. Roy is still putting his fingerprints on the Islanders and his influence can turn this team into a perennial Cup contender, one that eventually wins a title. The hire was a risky one considering Roy was out of the NHL for a few years yet the risk is already paying off and looks to be one of the better moves of Lamoriello’s tenure.

At first, it didn’t look like the coaching change would save the season. The Islanders won their first game with Roy behind the bench and then lost the next three as they entered the All-Star Break with a 20-17-12 record and six points out of a playoff spot. Then the Islanders started to play with the same fire and energy that their head coach displayed both on and off the ice.

The Islanders returned from the break and earned points in five of six games. With Roy leading them, they looked like a balanced team that could make noise if they made the playoffs. All they needed was one or two additions to take a good team and put it over the top. It made the trade deadline a defining point in the season.

Lamoriello’s Silence at the Deadline

It’s not a shock to see Lamoriello stand pat and not make any big moves. He rarely if ever makes a big signing in the offseason and the same can be said about trades ahead of the deadline. Yet it still was tough to digest considering where the Islanders were at the time. They were playing well and just needed that minor addition to solidify their place at the top of the standings. Lamoriello did nothing and it left the Islanders with a low ceiling. Sure they could reach the playoffs, but could they make a deep playoff run? At the time, it felt doubtful.

Even worse, the Islanders fell apart immediately after the trade deadline. They lost six games in a row and the season looked like it was once again spiraling out of control, a common theme of the season but in March, it was a growing concern. It looked like the silent trade deadline would be Lamoriello’s final impression as the GM as the ownership group would look for someone willing to be more aggressive instead of the reserved and aging GM.

The lack of movement signaled confidence in the group which isn’t a shock considering Lamoriello’s history. After every quiet offseason or trade deadline with little action, he states that he’s confident in the group that’s in place. However, it also stressed that the biggest move was already made. Lamoriello hired Roy and that alone was enough to get the Islanders to the playoffs.

Varlamov Takes Over in Goal

Roy made a lot of bold decisions and changes as the head coach. He put the lines in a blender multiple times with Brock Nelson, Bo Horvat, and Mathew Barzal playing on the same line at one point while the team finished the season with Casey Cizikas playing on the top line alongside Barzal and Horvat. He deployed two defensemen on the second power-play unit, a strategy that frankly, hasn’t worked out. Roy also had Kyle Palmieri take on a greater role in the offense and it unlocked the veteran winger who scored 18 goals and 10 assists following the coaching change.

However, the move that secured a playoff spot was the decision to roll with Semyon Varlamov as the starting goaltender down the stretch. Ilya Sorokin is one of the best in the NHL but he was overworked this season, facing 1,778 shots which are second-most in the league behind only Juuse Saros. Varlamov at 35 isn’t as good as he used to be but he’s still capable of playing at a high level, something the Islanders saw firsthand when they turned to him to save their season.

Roy started Varlamov in the March 23 game against the Winnipeg Jets and since then has turned to the veteran eight times. Varlamov has been on the winning end of seven of those games and has only allowed 16 goals while putting together a .935 save percentage (SV%). The highlight of the recent stretch and possibly of the season was Varlamov’s 41-save shutout on April 6 against the Nashville Predators. He’s been the hot hand and it’s helped the Islanders not only secure a playoff spot but the third-best record in the Metropolitan Division.

Sorokin is the goaltender of the future for the Islanders. Roy knows that, but he also knows when an elite goaltender needs a rest and when a veteran can carry a team. If anyone knows how to manage goaltenders, especially elite ones, it’s Roy, who was one himself back in his playing days. His decision to start Varlamov saved the season and his knowledge of the position gives the Islanders an advantage heading into the playoffs.

Other Season-Defining Moments

The Islanders won 10 games in overtime, making it hard to point to one as the most iconic or one to remember. The two against the Toronto Maple Leafs were exciting and involved the Barzal-Horvat connection while the Feb. 26 one against the Dallas Stars saw Barzal put the team on his back with a remarkable shift and a pass to set up the game-winning goal. There was also the April 1 game against the Philadelphia Flyers where the Palmieri-Nelson connection gave the Islanders a much-needed win over their Metropolitan Division rival.

In terms of brutal losses, the Dec. 5 loss to the San Jose Sharks stood out as they blew a 4-1 lead in the third period and lost in overtime to a last-place team. The Stadium Series game also was memorable as it had plenty of action but for the Islanders, it was a devastating loss as they fell apart late to lose 6-5 in overtime.

This season has been a long one with plenty of ups and downs already. Yet, it’s not over and the Islanders have a chance to both get revenge for their playoff defeat last season and make a deep playoff run with a roster that has a lot of momentum as the season comes to a close.