NEW YORK — The stage is set for the New York Islanders as they prepare to welcome the Florida Panthers to UBS Arena on Sunday night, March 16, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup marks the third and final time the teams will meet this season, with the Panthers having won the previous two encounters — one at home and one on Long Island.
For the Islanders, the game is particularly momentous as defenseman Mike Reilly will be taking the ice for the first time since November 1, 2024. Reilly’s absence stemmed from undergoing heart surgery on November 19, 2024, which came after concussion protocol tests revealed heart issues. The 31-year-old expressed his excitement about returning, stating, “I’m so excited. It’s been a long, long time. A lot of work was put to it, with the hope of coming back this season.” His latest game will see him paired with Scott Mayfield on the blue line, especially as Adam Pelech is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Reilly's return is important for the Islanders, who have struggled recently, having lost their last three games and scoring only one goal in each contest. Their most recent defeat was a narrow 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on March 14, 2025. Currently, the Islanders sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 29-28-8 and only 66 points accumulated through 65 games. The team’s offensive difficulties have placed them 30th in the NHL with only 173 goals this season, and their power play is the league's worst, functioning at just 11.7%.
Coach Patrick Roy praised Reilly's determination during his time off the ice. "Resilient is a good choice of word," said Roy. "It would be easy for anyone to give up, and he wants to continue to play and do well. I’m happy for him. He’s been practicing well lately and is ready to play. I want him to keep things simple from the start, not trying to do too much." After months of rehabilitation and training, Reilly has finally earned his return after starting to skate solo back in December 2024 and rejoining full-contact practices by late February 2025.
On the other hand, the Florida Panthers come to Brooklyn boasting impressive form. Despite their recent 3-1 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens the previous night, the Panthers have secured victories in seven of their last ten games, accumulating 41 wins and 85 points, placing them atop the Atlantic Division. Their offensive prowess is evidenced by their ranking seventh for goals scored this season, with 214 total. Star player Sam Reinhart leads the team with 70 points, including six over the last five games, and Mackie Samoskevich has been contributing well with multiple goals recently.
The Panthers not only excel offensively but also possess solid defensive structures, ranking ninth for goals against this season, allowing only 180 goals. Their penalty kill unit is effective as well, ranking 11th at 80.9%, which rounds out their profile as one of the elite teams this season. With Sergei Bobrovsky being the starting goaltender up till their last match, the Panthers will now turn to Vitek Vaněček. Vaněček recently made quite the impression, recording 21 saves for his first shutout during his debut with the Panthers against the Buffalo Sabres.
The predictions for the game lean heavily toward Florida's favor due to their offensive capabilities and strong defensive line, with odds placing the Panthers as -155 favorites against the Islanders’ +130. This matchup is not only pivotal for the Islanders as they push toward the play-off picture but also presents the Panthers with the opportunity to regain ground after their loss against Montreal.
The Islanders have faced more than just competition on the ice; they've been grappling with internal challenges as well. The team's inability to score goals has recently become evident, creating pressure on goaltender Ilya Sorokin, whose numbers (24-20-5 with a .906 save percentage) are solid yet overshadowed by the team's offensive shortcomings. Sorokin has done well to keep the team competitive, but frequent low goal support has put him at risk of being overwhelmed.
Live updates will be available through various channels as the Islanders seek to regain their footing against the formidable Florida Panthers. Fans are eager to see how Reilly’s return will impact the Islanders and whether they can finally break their scoring drought. Cornering the defensive strategy against the Panthers will be equally as important, as the Islanders look to avoid being swept this season.
While the road to recovery and improvement is long for the Islanders, the presence of resilience, represented by Mike Reilly’s return, showcases hope and determination moving forward. Whatever the outcome, the game promises to be filled with excitement on both ends of the ice as the Islanders look to turn their fortunes around against the talented Panthers.