There is nothing quite like the feeling of a comeback story at UBS Arena. Kyle Palmieri returned to his scoring ways on Tuesday night, netting two goals to lead the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. It was a massive relief for the veteran winger, who hasn’t scored a goal since November 2025 before tearing his ACL.
The win was a team effort, but the Islanders (3-3-0) needed their stars to step up when it mattered most. After a shaky second period where the Canucks tied the game, Palmieri delivered the game-winner with just over five minutes left in the third. The crowd roared as the puck found the back of the net, silencing the visitors and securing a crucial home win.
Palmieri Finds His Rhythm
The night started with a spark in the first period. The Islanders scored twice in just 53 seconds to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Palmieri opened the scoring with 5:03 remaining in the first, deflecting a Matt Kessel shot from the point. Kessel, making his Islanders debut after 99 games with the St. Louis Blues, found the right lane to set up the play.
Matias Maccelli added the second goal shortly after, firing a wrister past the Canucks’ goalie. But the team couldn’t hold the advantage. Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver in the second period to knot the game at two. Tony DeAngelo received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the buzzer, forcing the Islanders to kill a penalty to begin the third period.
With the game tied, Palmieri made his mark. Matthew Schaefer drove behind the net and found Maccelli, who then spotted Palmieri between the circles. The veteran’s shot got through the defenders and squeezed into the net. It was his first multi-goal game of the season and a clear sign that he is healthy and ready to contribute.
DeBoer’s Goalie Rotation Plan
While Palmieri stole the show, Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer had a clear message about his goaltending strategy. He is prioritizing rest for starter Ilya Sorokin rather than giving backup Semyon Varlamov the easiest starts. Varlamov, who missed 676 days after knee surgery, is getting regular action to keep him sharp.
“I think our goal here is I want to make sure Varly gets in the net at least once a week or once every 10 days,” DeBoer said on Tuesday, according to amNewYork. The coach noted that the schedule dictates the plan. “Different parts of the schedule sometimes dictate different things. If we’re playing five games in 10 days, it might be more. If we’re playing three games in 10 days, it might be less.”
With four games scheduled over eight nights and five within 10, the team confronts a demanding schedule. DeBoer wants to avoid overworking Sorokin while respecting the backup. “We’ve got kind of a loose framework where we don’t want to overwork Ilya,” DeBoer continued. “At the same time, we want to respect the fact that we have a great backup and we want to keep him working.”
The risk of injury is real for any team. The Rangers recently lost Igor Shesterkin for the season, a stark reminder of how quickly plans can change. “The Shesterkin injury alone shows you that the best-laid plans can blow up pretty quickly,” DeBoer said. The Islanders are trying to balance performance with health as the season ramps up.
What’s Next for the Isles
The Islanders will look to build on this momentum as they head into their next game. Varlamov is expected to get the start in net on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa. The team needs to maintain their defensive structure and keep the offense clicking if they want to climb the standings.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
