The New York Islanders vs Stars preview Sunday centers on two teams trending in opposite directions through the season’s first three weeks. New York (5-3-2) visits Dallas (6-3-1) on Sunday, Oct. 25 at American Airlines Center, with puck drop set for 6 p.m. ET.
The Stars have won three straight, while the Islanders are coming off back-to-back results that split a win and an overtime loss. The biggest question heading into the matinee is whether New York’s penalty kill and goaltending can slow a Dallas attack built around Mikko Rantanen.
Islanders Vs. Stars Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 25
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSGSN, Prime Video (Local)
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
How Have Both Teams Played Recently?
Dallas has won four of its last five games, including three straight decided by extra time or a shootout, a 3-2 win over Colorado in a shootout, a 4-0 win at Chicago and overtime victories over Boston and Winnipeg. The only loss in that stretch came against Colorado on Oct. 14, a 3-2 result. The Stars sit third in the Central Division with 13 points.
New York has gone 3-2 over its last five, beating Vancouver, Toronto and Anaheim while dropping decisions to Ottawa in a shootout and Los Angeles in overtime. The Islanders are fourth in the Metropolitan Division at 12 points, with a 5-3-2 record that includes two overtime losses.
Who Is Expected To Start In Goal?
Ilya Sorokin is projected as the Islanders’ probable starting goalie, according to the official data. Sorokin’s club has allowed 22 goals on the season with a .925 save percentage. Jake Oettinger is listed as Dallas’ probable starter, backstopping a Stars defense that has surrendered just 16 goals and posted a .936 save percentage, the lowest goals-against mark of the two teams at 1.60 per outing by that measure.
What Is The Injury Situation For Each Team?
Dallas is missing several forwards. Matt Duchene remains on injured reserve with an abdomen injury and has a return date listed as Jan. 12. Oskar Back is on injured reserve with a finger fracture, targeted to return Nov. 14. Esa Lindell (lower body) and Sam Steel (undisclosed) both carry an Oct. 27 return date, and Radek Faksa is day-to-day with an undisclosed issue and a return date of Oct. 25, the day of this game.
New York is also shorthanded up front. Mathew Barzal is on injured reserve with a knee injury and a projected return of Nov. 7. Matias Maccelli is out with a left lower-body injury with a return date of Nov. 17, while Calum Ritchie is out with a lower-body injury targeted for a Dec. 1 return.
Alexander Romanov remains on injured reserve following right knee surgery, with a return date listed as April 8, 2027. All designations are projections per the official data and subject to change before puck drop.
Key Matchup: Islanders Penalty Kill Vs. Stars Power Play
Dallas owns a faceoff percentage of 57.1%, giving its power-play unit extra possession time to work with Rantanen, who leads the team in goals (5), assists (8) and points (13). The Stars have scored four power-play goals this season. New York’s penalty-killers will need help from a faceoff unit that has won 54.7% of draws, a few points behind Dallas, to limit the offensive-zone time Dallas has generated during its current three-game win streak. Bo Horvat leads the Islanders with five goals and a team-high 10 points, and his line’s ability to win puck battles against a deep Stars defense could decide how much time New York spends on special teams.
What To Watch
Both teams are chasing position in divisions where points are tightly bunched. Dallas trails only Utah and Minnesota in the Central, while New York sits fourth in a crowded Metropolitan race led by Carolina’s 18 points. A Stars win would extend their streak to four, while an Islanders win would snap Dallas’ run and move New York closer to the top of its division. The two clubs meet for the first time this season, with the result offering an early look at how both rosters hold up given their respective injury situations up front.
For more on New York’s injury situation, see the Islanders’ significant injuries report and the team’s recent loss to the Kings. The Islanders also picked up a win earlier this month detailed in the recap of their victory over the Ducks and topped Toronto in the 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs.
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