Matthew Schaefer will try to extend his season-opening home point streak to six games when the New York Islanders host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Islanders have opened the season 4-1-0 at UBS Arena, giving them a solid home base as they continue to build momentum early in the year. Schaefer has been a key part of that start, recording seven assists through his first five games and helping set the tone in New York.
Kings arrive after first win
The Kings come in on a five-game road trip after beating the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Tuesday for their first win of the season. That result should give Los Angeles a little more confidence, but the schedule now sends the team into a tougher environment against an Islanders group that has played well at home.
There is also a familiar coaching connection in the matchup. Peter Laviolette’s first NHL coaching job was with the Islanders from 2001-03, adding a small historical note to a game that already carries an early-season storyline.
For the Islanders, the focus is on keeping their home start moving in the right direction. For Schaefer, it is another chance to extend a streak that has become one of the more notable early-season developments on Long Island.
