Islanders Host Kings at UBS Arena as Varlamov Makes Home Return

The New York Islanders are set to host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The matchup, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET puck drop, marks the first meeting between the two inter-conference opponents this season.

The Islanders enter the contest with a 5-3-1 record overall and a strong 4-1-0 mark at home, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Kings are looking to find traction after a slow start, carrying a 1-4-2 record into the game following a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals that snapped their early-season skid.

A significant storyline for New York centers on the crease, where veteran goaltender Semyon Varlamov is expected to make his first regular-season home start since November 25, 2024. Varlamov missed the entire 2025-26 season due to a knee injury and has managed his workload carefully during his comeback.

Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer emphasized the importance of getting Varlamov regular playing time. "We want to keep them playing on a regular basis. I think that's the important part, both for Ilya, but also because he deserves to," DeBoer said. Teammate Kyle Palmieri added that the home crowd will undoubtedly welcome the veteran back enthusiastically.

Los Angeles comes into the game attempting to build momentum behind forward Adrian Kempe, who scored two goals in their recent win over Washington. Kings captain Drew Doughty noted that the team's ongoing road trip has offered valuable bonding time. "We're on the road. I think this is a good thing for us. Just the boys getting together, going for dinner, it's a good time for us to gel even more than we already do," Doughty remarked.

Both rosters are managing notable injuries heading into the game. The Islanders are playing without centers Mathew Barzal and Matias Maccelli, forward Calum Ritchie, and defenseman Alexander Romanov. The Kings are similarly shorthanded, missing forwards Kevin Fiala, Jakub Dvorak, Jan Jeník, and Alex Turcotte, while Quinton Byfield remains listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Thursday's matchup will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu, as the Islanders look to defend their home ice and the Kings fight to secure consecutive victories on the road.