Kyle Palmieri had a strong first week under Patrick Roy.
Kyle Palmieri had a strong first week under Patrick Roy.
Toward the end of Lane Lambert's tenure on Long Island, The Hockey News had asked the second-year New York Islanders head coach what he had seen from veteran forward Kyle Palmieri.
"He's a powerful forward, a power guy," Lambert said. "As it stands right now, I'd like to see a little more jump in his step. But, he's good on the power play, net front, and he's really good for that line."
Palmieri and his line, consisting of Brock Nelson and Pierre Engvall, got off to a solid start to begin the season, building on a tremendous second half of the 2022-23 campaign that bled into the playoffs.
With three goals and five assists through 10 games, including strong play defensively and using his body as the net-front presence on the power play, Palmieri was playing well.
But there was a cool-off period for him as he went 12 games without a goal from Dec. 15 to Jan. 9, with four assists. Over that span, the Islanders went 4-5-3.
Snapping the goal drought on Jan. 11 was a positive. Still, when the Islanders needed someone to step up on their four-game road trip starting in Nashville, Palmieri went three straight games without a point before scoring the tying goal in an overtime loss against Chicago to close out a winless trip (0-3-1).
The next day, the Islanders relieved Lambert of his duties, hiring Patrick Roy to become the franchise's next coach.
Despite the downturn in production, Palmieri hadn't missed any games due to health, which had plagued him ever since he began his first full season with the Islanders in 2021.
THN caught up with Palmieri in Arizona to get his thoughts on his play this season.
"Being in the lineup and being healthy is key. It's the only way to be a part of your team and contribute and make an impact," Palmieri told THN. "So you take it day by day. Some things are a little out of your control, especially with injuries like the one here last time.
"Every day you're healthy and able to play is something to be grateful and fortunate for it, and it's definitely not lost on me."
Through 45 games, Palmieri had 11 goals and 14 assists, on pace for 20 goals -- a number he hadn't reached since his final season in New Jersey, and 25 assists -- a mark he hadn't reached since the 2016-17 season.
He also recorded 101 shots on goal, which came out to 2.24 goals per game.
With a new coach aboard, the past number didn't matter, and Palmieri and the rest of his teammates got a newfound opportunity in the middle of a shaky season to prove their worth and make a strong first impression.
While Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Noah Dobson were the standouts over Roy's first four games, no one showed more than Palmieri.
Through four games under Roy, the Long Island native didn't just score two goals with an assist but scored two vital goes.
With the Islanders down 3-2 with under four minutes to play in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens, Palmieri potted a goal on the power play:
The Islanders ultimately allowed the goal 1:20 later before losing 4-3 in regulation. Still, it was a positive sign for New York, Roy, and Palmieri for him to come up clutch with a goal when the team desperately needed it.
But it wasn't a one-and-done night for Palmieri, like it was against Toronto, as when the Islanders needed a goal late in the third period against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, it was No. 21 that came up clutch yet again, tying the game at 2-2 with 809 seconds to play which allowed New York to snag a point before losing 3-2 in overtime:
"Yeah, it's nice to be able to tie it up in the third. Those are big goals," Palmieri told THN Satuday night. "I mean, tonight, Dobber and Barzy, that pass from Dobber was first class. So, credit to them, and yeah, it's nice I got the bounce, and it went in."
Another standout from Palmeiri's first week under Roy was the number of times he threw pucks at the net, with 21 shots in four games, 5.25 per game.
Now, that number is inflated due to his 11 shots against Montreal, but if you watch Palmieri skate, he's skating with more of a purpose. He's driving the net. He's being pesty in the corners and playing sound defensively.
Palmieri's two goals were tied with Horvat for the most in the week, leading the team in shots on goal, Expected Goals For (3.63), Corsi For (28), Scoring Chances (20), and High-Danger Chances (13), per NaturalStatrick.com.
What that translates to is that Palmieri was dangerous all week long under Roy.
"Laner was a great coach. He's got a great hockey mind," Palmieri said. "But, Patrick, he's come in, and he's a new voice, and everyone who's been around him so far, he just oozes passion, and that's inspiring as a player.
"We're fortunate to be playing for him and excited to see what we can do here."
When the Islanders are in need of points, it's hard to focus on the little things and be happy about them, like the progression they've made since Roy got behind the bench.
But it's something that needs to be focused on, especially continuing to take steps forward following the All-Star break.
"I think we believe in each other in this room, and this week, maybe the results weren't there," Palmieri said. "We'll take the break to refocus and regroup and just get ready to play some exciting hockey down the stretch.
"To watch and look at what we're building here, and after this week, shut your mind off from hockey for a little bit and just get ready for the stretch. I think everybody in this room remembers how we played down the stretch last year and found a way into the playoffs. So we'll just get ourselves physically and mentally geared up for that, and we believe in each other, and we believe that we can make a run here."
The Islanders will need all hands on deck to go on that run, and Palmieri will have to play a vital part in that, as he did a season ago when he scored 10 goals with nine assists while his line flourished over the final 30 games of the season to get the Islanders into the playoffs.
You can watch Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert live Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter & Facebook.