Islanders Establish Season’s Tone in Ottawa Opener

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 19, 2026 7:11 PM ET

Islanders Establish Season’s Tone in Ottawa Opener

The New York Islanders returned to the Canadian Tire Centre after a five-month gap. The club reflected on an early-season win in Ottawa that shaped their campaign.

Early-season rally in Ottawa

On Oct. 18, the Islanders beat the Senators 5-4 in their fifth game. The win came after the club opened the season with three straight losses.

Two days earlier, the Islanders had defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at UBS Arena. That sequence helped stabilize the club before the Ottawa visit.

Key moments from the game

The Senators took a 2-0 lead at 5:32 of the second period on a goal by Shane Pinto.
The Islanders fought back to tie the score, and Anders Lee made it 3-3 at 17:45 of the second period.
Ottawa led 4-3 entering the third period.
Goalie Ilya Sorokin stopped a Shane Pinto penalty shot 2:23 into the third period.
Kyle Palmieri scored the equalizer at 6:00 of the third period.
Anders Lee finished the comeback with the game-winner at 18:57, driving to the crease.

Longer-term effects on the club

The comeback in Ottawa helped establish the Islanders’ season’s tone. The club developed a habit of rallying from multi-goal deficits.

By the time of a later matchup in Ottawa, 18 of the Islanders’ 39 wins had come as comebacks. That statistic illustrated their resiliency.

Player perspectives and midseason additions

Anders Lee said the early comeback built confidence and resilience. Defenseman Ryan Pulock agreed it created a foundation of belief.

Two acquisitions reinforced that mentality. Carson Soucy arrived from the Rangers on Jan. 26. Ondrej Palat was acquired from the Devils the following day.

Both players noted a different atmosphere on the bench compared with their former clubs. Their previous teams were no longer in the playoff race.