What to expect from the Islanders tonight (and when the season opens)

The limitations of the Islanders’ lineup, its potential for improvement and what roster battles remained will all be on display on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers for their second preseason match.

The lines, defense pairs and goalie tandem strongly hint at what’s expected for the season opener next week in Toronto.

“You always start with what you hope will stick,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “The reality is that we’re usually never right. We’re not smart enough to get that figured out right off the bat.

“Every pair and line combination you should find interesting because we’re not just throwing darts at a board. There’s some thought process there.”

New captain Bo Horvat will center Simon Holmstrom and Kyle Palmieri on a top line that should make it to the season opener by default presuming rookie Victor Eklund doesn’t force his way onto the trio. Ditto for the second line of Cal Ritchie between newcomer Matias Maccelli and Brayden Schenn, presuming Mathew Barzal (left knee) remains unavailable.

But the Islanders finished 24th in the NHL last season in goals scored with an average of 2.8 per game and could struggle again with goal-scoring consistency given that top six, without or without Barzal. Horvat and Palmieri, returning from an ACL injury that cost him most of last season, may be the only threats to reach 30 goals.

“I like our line a lot,” Horvat said. “I think we’ve got a little bit of everything. Defensive play. Offensive abilities, too. I think we all complement each other very well. It’s been fun during training camp to try to get that chemistry going. Palms looks great coming off an ACL surgery. Hands are still there. His speed looks great.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a lock to center the third line, will be between Eklund and fellow former first-rounder Cole Eiserman. Eklund’s playmaking, skating and attention to defense almost makes him a necessity for the team’s balance. Eiserman’s blistering shot is unique and would also add to the team’s offense, even if his play away from the puck is not quite yet at an NHL level.

Longtime fourth-line stalwart Casey Cizikas skates between fellow grinders Kyle MacLean and Mitchell Chaffee. But not dressing on Tuesday will be Emil Heineman, a lineup lock most likely on Pageau’s line, Ondrej Palat, Anthony Duclair and Pierre Engvall. Duclair has been used extensively on the second power play unit during training camp, strongly indicating he’s being counted on for opening night, likely on the fourth line.

Defensemen Ryan Pulock and Alexander Romanov also will not dress on Tuesday and both will be among the top six.

Left-handed shooting Matthew Schaefer played on his off-side with fellow lefty Adam Pelech and it would be a shock if that isn’t the opening night top pair. That would open a spot for left-handers Isaiah George or Kashawn Aitcheson – both in Tuesday’s lineup – to earn. Right-hander Scott Mayfield, paired with George on Tuesday, is also battling to remain in the top six.

Goalies Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov both will dress, and Varlamov is being counted on as the backup as he returns from two partial knee replacement surgeries that have kept him sidelined since Nov. 29, 2024.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.