Blues vs. Islanders: Road Warriors Face Resilient Blues

Islanders Seek Home-Ice Magic After Historic Road Trip

The New York Islanders return to UBS Arena on Saturday, November 22, riding high after a franchise-record 6-1-0 road trip that saw them dominate contenders like the Rangers, Red Wings, Stars, and Avalanche. Now, they face a St. Louis Blues team desperate to convert resilience into wins, setting the stage for an intriguing clash of contrasting narratives.

Islanders: From Road Warriors to Homecoming Heroes

Coming off a West Coast swing that matched their longest road trip in history, the Islanders (12-7-2) have transformed their season narrative. Led by captain Bo Horvat—whose 25 points (14G, 11A) through 21 games pace the offense—and anchored by rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer's Calder-worthy impact, Isles hockey is suddenly appointment viewing. As veteran forward Anders Lee told Newsday, "I hope our fans have enjoyed watching the games on TV the last week and a half because we've been putting in some great efforts... It'll be fun to get in front of our fans on Saturday."

Yet, UBS Arena has been surprisingly quiet this season. With only one sellout in eight home games (averaging 15,258 fans), the Isles hope their dominant 5-0 road-closing win over Detroit energizes the faithful. Coach Patrick Roy acknowledges the challenge: "Sometimes we fly home from out West and that first one back is tough... We're going to have to find some juice."

Blues: Turning Overtime Heartbreaks into Momentum

The Blues (6-9-6) enter this matinee battle clinging to points from consecutive overtime losses, proving they can hang with the NHL's best. Their power play (24.5%) ranks third in the league, fueled by defenseman Justin Faulk's surprising offensive surge. Faulk, fresh off his 1,000th NHL game, boasts six goals—tied for the team lead and third among all NHL blueliners—along with six power-play points and 46 blocked shots.

St. Louis also approaches franchise milestones: Jordan Binnington needs one start to become the all-time leader in games played by a Blues goalie, while Colton Parayko is set to pass Brett Hull for sixth on the franchise's games-played list.

Key Matchups: Power vs. Penalty Kill

This showdown features a fascinating tactical battle: the Blues' lethal power play (24.5%) versus the Islanders' league-best penalty kill (82.6%). Conversely, New York's high-octane offense averages 3.29 goals per game, testing a Blues defense allowing 3.76 per contest.

Watch Jake Neighbours, who carries a three-game point streak against the Islanders, exploit familiar defensive matchups. Meanwhile, the Isles' rookie line of Cal Ritchie centering Maxim Shabanov and Casey Cizikas provides energy and speed after Shabanov's career-high 3-point effort capped the road trip.

Series History: Home-Ice Advantage for Isles

While the Blues hold a 3-2 edge in their last five meetings overall, the Islanders have dominated at home, going 7-1-1 in their last nine games against St. Louis at various Long Island venues. With two meetings this season—including the March 10 rematch in St. Louis—this opener could set the tone for the series.

What to Watch

"We're excited in here and we hope the fans are excited too... We want their support." — Bo Horvat on UBS Arena's energy needs

As the Isles chase their first home sellout since October, expect a charged atmosphere if fans respond to the team's call. For the Blues, Faulk's offensive consistency and Binnington's netminding will be critical against an Isles attack clicking at the right time.

With both teams trending in opposite directions—New York building confidence and St. Louis fighting for every point—this Saturday matinee promises intensity, skill, and a clear opportunity for the Islanders to reward their road-heroism with home-ice dominance.