We’re finally here! The NHL season began almost a week ago, it feels like, but the Islanders are finally opening their schedule tonight.
It’s a refreshing Saturday night home opener, so the crowd should be pumped, well-served and ready. I trust the team will be too.
There’s been much debate about whether the team is the same (I refuse to use the cliche “run it back,” and I don’t understand why that has suddenly become the default phrase across the NHL), or whether the rather significant changes since a year ago represent a more promising outlook.
On the bright side: Lane Lambert entered a year ago with either a mandate or a mission to open up the offense a bit.