Islanders 2026-27 schedule breakdown: What are the key games?
The Islanders' Matthew Schaefer skates during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena on April 11, 2026. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Islanders have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons with last season’s late swoon costing coach Patrick Roy his job with four games remaining in favor of Pete DeBoer. The new coach is in place as the NHL expands this season by two games to 84 to ensure each team plays its divisional opponents four times each.
The season opens on Sept. 30 in Toronto and the home opener is Oct. 3 against the Devils with the season finale on April 10 against the Blue Jackets at UBS Arena.
Here’s a breakdown of the Islanders’ 2026-27 slate:
Facing the ex-captain
Anders Lee, the Islanders captain since 2018, left via free agency for a three-year, $16.2 million deal with the Mammoth. Lee’s first scheduled game against his former team will be Dec. 15 in Utah. But the real emotional jolt should come on Feb. 15 when the Mammoth visit UBS Arena and the Islanders’ fans welcome back the longtime fan favorite.
Later start times
Last season, the Islanders moved most of their faceoffs at UBS Arena to 7 p.m. But several factors, including the reopening of live racing at the reconstructed Belmont Park, have altered that. The home opener and the next two home games will start at 7:30 p.m. and the Islanders will face off against the visiting Canucks at 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 13. In all, the Islanders will have 11 home games that start at 7:30 p.m. and 21 at 7 p.m.
Not as taxing
The Islanders’ first set of back-to-back games is not until Nov. 27-28 and there are only 13 back-to-backs in the season. Not having a two-week Olympic break, as was the case last season, helps. The Islanders also only have four road trips of at least four games, with their longest road stretch a six-game trek from Jan. 26-Feb. 12 that ends with a match against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Conversely, the Islanders’ longest homestand is a four-game stretch from March 1-9. They have six three-game homestands.
The New York rivals
The Islanders and Rangers face each other four times, fairly spread out, though the season series concludes on Feb. 18. The Rangers are at UBS Arena on Dec. 20 and Feb. 18. The Islanders play at the Garden on Oct. 6 and Feb. 12. All four matches are at 7 p.m.
Oddities
The Islanders play twice in Toronto in their first eight games, returning on Oct. 17. The NHL very much wanted the Islanders to open against the Maple Leafs as that pits this year’s No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna with reigning rookie of the year Matthew Schaefer, picked first by the Islanders in 2025. Also, the Islanders play twice in Philadelphia in six days, on Nov. 28 and Dec. 3, sandwiched around a home game against the Panthers. And the Islanders also play twice in Columbus in six days on Feb. 22 and Feb. 27 with two games in between.
Other key games
Oct. 25 – The Islanders are DeBoer’s sixth NHL coaching stop. This marks his first trip to Dallas to face his most recent former team. The Stars are at UBS Arena on Jan. 15.
Nov. 5 – The Islanders play their first game against the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes and goalie Brandon Bussi of Sound Beach and make their first trip to Carolina on Dec. 11.
March 4 – The Islanders host Vegas (another of DeBoer’s former teams) on the day before the NHL trade deadline. They are off and not traveling on March 5.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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