As the Islanders count the days towards their first-ever game at UBS Arena a week from Saturday against Calgary, their season-opening 13-game road trip is winding down. Starting with Thursday night's game against the Devils in New Jersey, the Islanders have three games left on the excursion before finally playing a game at their lavish new home. There have been breaks in the road trip with opportunities to come home and spend time with their families, but the Islanders knew coming into the season that 13 straight games on the road would to be a tough challenge.
All things considered, a 5-3-2 record for 12 points over the first 10 games isn't too shabby.
"It takes a toll on you mentally and physically with the travel and playing and what not," said Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock. "I think we've done a pretty good job so far. We've got a few more left that we need to keep building on."
During last season's 56-game regular season, the Islanders played all of their games within a realigned East Division with very limited travel as their longest flight was just over an hour. This season, with a return to a traditional 82-game season, the Islanders have been visiting cities that they haven't been to in quite some time because of the pandemic. The current road trip has taken the Islanders to places Minnesota, Montreal, Chicago, Arizona and Las Vegas.
"It's different," said Islanders forward Casey Cizikas. "Especially after last year when you're playing the same teams over and over again staying on the east coast. You're not really travelling that much. This year, there's a lot more travelling. We're playing different teams so there's a lot of unfamiliarity there."
Now, the Islanders are looking forward to getting back to divisional play and making up some ground. To this point, the Islanders have played just two Metropolitan Division games, a season-opening 6-3 loss in Carolina and a 3-2 overtime loss in Columbus.
On Thursday, it's back to divisional play against the Devils at the Prudential Center, and judging by what is being posted on social media, there will be a lot of Islanders fans invading "The Rock" to get a head start of cheering on their team in advance of the home opener.
There are more divisional games coming up later this month against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia along with a pair against the Rangers, but the Islanders focus right now following Sunday's 5-2 loss in Minnesota is getting back in the win column against the Devils.
"That has a rivalry type of type of thing with the New York area and it's a four-point game," said Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz. "Getting into these divisional games will be good for us."
The first 10 games of the road trips have involved multiple flights back and forth to Long Island, but Thursday will involve just a bus trip across the Hudson River into New Jersey. After playing the Devils, there will be two more road games against Tampa Bay and Florida before the Islanders will finally have the chance to play a home game. There's no doubt that they're looking forward to skating onto the UBS Arena ice for the first time, but the Islanders continue to maintain a one game at a time approach under Barry Trotz.
The immediate task at hand is adding two more points against the Devils.
