Islanders game day news: The Isles open the season against the Utah Hell Catchers

It's back! We're back! Finally it's here!

The New York Islanders' 2024-25 season begins with the second-ever game for the newest incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets, who became the Arizona Coyotes and then the Utah Hell Catchers.

So grab your wives and get together to watch your daddy's coyotes take over Long Island.

Kickoff time at Belmont is 7:30 a.m. EDT, with or without an opening ceremony or two.

(A note on FIG picks: Over the summer our FanPost feature seems to have all but disappeared, leaving me with no solution as to where to target the First Islanders goal picks. Open to ideas or third parties. Apparently the Powers That Be has prioritized the general “Betting” menu category, which is just great.)

About the enemy

Okay, these aren't quite your dad's coyotes. In addition to their new colors, generic name and not-yet-NHL-capable but at least 5,000-plus-seat venue, the Utah Herpes Collectors boast some major offseason additions. They made a splash in the draft when they took Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino for the blueline. But can Sergachev really be number 1? And has he fully returned from the broken leg that sidelined him last season?

Otherwise, the Coyutahs are pretty similar in composition after the sellout at the end of last season. They have young talent, they should be bubble-forming and they won't be a pushover.

Islanders News

• The islanders are excited. (Island video)
• Maxim Tsyplakov is thrilled – and how long will it take you to fall in love with the new number 7? Or are you already there? (That's me.) (Islands)
• The top line in particular is enthusiastic. (Post)
• And both goalkeepers are happy about their new masks. (islands)
• They are also all looking forward to their old friend Jordan Eberle. (THN)
• Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri were “anchors” during training camp – but in a good way. (islands)
• Patrick Roy talks about building the fourth line: He hopes Casey Cizikas, who will start on the wing, and Kyle MacLean, who has been working on faceoffs all summer, will “rub off” on Oliver Wahlstrom. (THN)
• Three insights into the start of the season on the islands. (news day)
• Preview tonight. (islands)
• And bold predictions from Staple: Less than 50 games for Ilya, no overtime for Brock, a spot in the playoffs by April 1st (!?!?), a first round loss to… oh, oh, you closes your face. (Sporty)
• Cal Clutterbuck joins the band of former Isles who (we expect) have become great broadcasters. (news day)
• I'm sure you're thrilled that a global industrial company has come on board – oh shit, wait, that's their company name! — um, the Global Industrial Company has entered into some kind of official partnership with the…zzzz. (islands)

Elsewhere

• In a sign that the hockey gods fully understood this, the Leafs were without their presumed goalie savior while being shut out by a 48-save performance from Sam Montembeault. It would be funny if it weren't…actually, it's absolutely funny. (NHL)
• Your former coach Sheldon Keefe and the Devils host the Leafs tonight. (NHL)
• The still important Penguins lost 6-0 at home to the Smurfs. Teehi! (NHL)
• Likewise, the Jets beat the Oilers 6-0. (Sportsnet)