Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech skates with the puck ahead of goalie Semyon Varlamov during summer training camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on July 23, 2020. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The final answer can’t be gleaned from a single exhibition game. But as the NHL embarks upon an unprecedented restart to its season after a four-month pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s a fair question whether a defensive-oriented team such as the Islanders could have an early advantage.
“You look at every year, the start of the year it seems like the offense is always a little sloppier, especially when you look at special teams, the power plays are maybe not clicking as good as it needs to be,” Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle said.