Islanders' Kyle Palmieri, back in Anaheim, scores 20th goal, will skate in 800th NHL game
Islanders' Kyle Palmieri, center, celebrates with Anders Lee, left, and Noah Dobson after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Monday will be a milestone match for Kyle Palmieri as he dresses for his 800th NHL game when the Islanders continue a four-game road trip against the Kings.
But reaching 20 goals again, as he did at 7:28 of the first period in Sunday night’s 6-1 win over the Ducks at Honda Center after being sprung for a breakaway by defenseman Mike Reilly, seemed just as significant.
It was the first time the 33-year-old from Smithtown has done so as an Islander. This is Palmieri’s sixth 20-goal season but his first since 2019-20, his last full season with the Devils.
“Yeah, it’s big,” said Palmieri, who has five goals in his last four games. “Staying healthy is a big part of it. I just want to continue to try and play well. Our line is playing well and generating a lot of chances and giving ourselves a chance to make a positive impact on the game and help our team win.”
Palmieri has five goals and two assists in the six games since coach Patrick Roy reconfigured his lines, putting Jean-Gabriel Pageau between Palmieri and Anders Lee on the new second trio.
Palmieri made his NHL debut with the Ducks on Nov. 3, 2010.
“For me, it’s special coming back here,” he said before being asked about reaching 800. “It’s exciting. Those milestones, you look forward to them. You never know when the next one might be.”
Isles files
Right wing Mathew Barzal extended his point streak to seven games with a secondary assist on Brock Nelson’s power-play goal in the first period. Nelson extended his point streak to five games . . . Kyle MacLean earned his first NHL career assist with a secondary helper on Cal Clutterbuck’s third-period goal . . . Defenseman Samuel Bolduc and forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Hudson Fasching remained the healthy scratches.
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.
