It’s true that Holmstrom has never eagerly shot the puck the way the Islanders want him to, but the last time he went three games in a row without getting a single puck on net was last December. One of the key points of his development last season was shooting the puck more often.

The Islanders are coming off a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their season opener. Jonathan Drouin, Kyle Palmieri and Max Shabanov scored for New York, but Pittsburgh’s Justin Brazeau broke a 3-3 tie in the final frame. Ilya Sorokin made 24 of 28 saves in net.

The Washington Capitals are on the road for the first time this season, as they take on the New York Islanders in the first game of a back-to-back up north.

Everything from the game presentation at UBS Arena to the roster on the ice looked different. The 7 p.m. start time was a departure from what had previously been a standard 7:30 puck drop. The loudest roar in pregame warmups was for Matthew Schaefer.

Snapshots from the New York Islanders 4-2 loss in their home opener against the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena on Oct. 11, 2025. Photos by Dennis DaSilva and Sam Johnston, New York Islanders and Bruce Bennett, Steven Ryan and Andrew Mordzynski, Getty Images

There's no way for the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals to recreate the unique set of circumstances that surrounded their two clashes at UBS Arena in April.

" Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery views the <a href=" York Islanders as a much different team than they have been in years past.

The Washington Capitals take on the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena today. Here are the projected/expected lineups.