Canucks vs Islanders ends 3-2 as Palmieri scores twice in comeback night
Key takeaways
- The Islanders beat the Canucks 3-2 on October 13 at UBS Arena. Kyle Palmieri scored twice, including the winner in the third period.
- The goals were Palmieri's first since November 18. He missed the rest of last season with a torn ACL, a serious knee injury.
- The win closed the Islanders' homestand and moved them to 3-3-0. The Canucks lost their fifth game in a row.
The New York Islanders beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Tuesday. Kyle Palmieri scored twice in the win at UBS Arena. It was his first two-goal night since his return from a knee injury.
The game took place on October 13 in Elmont, New York, the NHL reported. Palmieri scored the winner early in the third period. His night gave the Islanders a strong finish to their homestand.
What happened
The Islanders started fast in the first period. The fast start was new for New York. The team had only one first-period goal in its first five games, SI reported.
Palmieri opened the scoring at 14:57 of the first period. He tipped a shot from Matthew Kessel past the goalie. The goal came with his back to the net, the NHL reported.
Matias Maccelli made it 2-0 just 53 seconds later. Matthew Schaefer set up the goal after a Vancouver turnover, the NHL reported. It was Maccelli's first goal with the Islanders, SI reported.
He spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Reuters reported.
The first period ended 2-0 for New York. The Canucks fought back in the second period. Max Sasson cut the lead to 2-1 at 7:52 of the second.
He beat Ilya Sorokin under his glove, the NHL reported.
Brock Boeser tied the game 2-2 late in the period. His power-play goal came at 18:55 of the second, per the NHL. A power play means one team has more players on the ice.
It happens when the other team takes a penalty.
Boeser's goal was his 80th career power-play goal, the NHL reported. The Islanders took charge again in the third period. Sorokin made two big saves early in the period, the NHL reported.
He stopped Linus Karlsson twice in the first minutes of the period.
Palmieri scored the winner at 5:38 of the third. Maccelli fed him the puck from below the goal line. His wrist shot beat Leevi Merilainen through a screen, the NHL reported.
The Islanders held the 3-2 lead to the end. Sorokin made 24 saves for the Islanders, according to the NHL. Merilainen made 35 saves for Vancouver, the NHL reported.
New York outshot Vancouver 19-7 in the final period, SI reported. Matthew Schaefer finished with two assists, the NHL reported. Maccelli finished with a goal and an assist, the NHL reported.
Why it matters
An ACL is a strong band inside the knee. It holds the knee steady when a player moves. A tear is a bad knee injury.
It can end a season.
Palmieri tore the ACL in his left knee last November, Reuters reported. His last goal before the injury came on November 18, Reuters reported. He got hurt about 10 days after that goal, Reuters reported.
The injury ended his season, Reuters reported.
Tuesday was his first two-goal game since November 23, 2024, Reuters reported. Palmieri said it felt good to help the team win. The win moved the Islanders to 3-3-0, the NHL reported.
That record means three wins and three losses.
The win also closed a three-game homestand, SI reported. A homestand is a run of games at home. The Islanders beat Chicago first, SI reported.
Then they lost to Tampa Bay. Tuesday's win ended the homestand on a high note, SI reported.
Sorokin earned his 157th career win, the NHL reported. That tied him with Glenn Resch for second in Islanders history, the NHL reported.
The Canucks fell to 2-6-0, the NHL reported. They have now lost five games in a row, Reuters reported. They have also lost the first four games of a six-game road trip, Reuters reported.
Coach Peter DeBoer liked his team's game, the NHL reported. He praised the way the Islanders reset in the third period. Boeser said the Canucks gave a better effort, the NHL reported.
Canucks coach Manny Malhotra also saw good effort, the NHL reported.
For more NHL news, see our report on the Frozen Frenzy night. The Red Wings also made big news with Alex DeBrincat's new extension. Another comeback story came when the Hurricanes rallied past the Capitals.
What happens next
The Islanders now hit the road. They play the Ottawa Senators on October 15, SI reported. The puck drops at 7 pm ET, SI reported.
A strong road trip could lift the Islanders above .500. The Islanders will want the same fast start on the road.
The Canucks keep playing on their road trip. They have two road games left on the trip. Vancouver needs a win to stop the slide.
The Canucks will want a cleaner start too.
Palmieri will try to build on his two-goal night. His health will stay a key story for the Islanders. A full season from Palmieri would help the team a lot.
Fans will watch Palmieri's next game with care. Two goals can build trust after a long layoff.
Tuesday gave the Islanders a clean finish at home. It gave Palmieri his best night since his injury. Now both teams face tests on the road.
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