Islanders Slot Duclair, Palat Alongside Cizikas for Opener

The Islanders will open the season with Anthony Duclair and Ondrej Palat on the fourth line alongside Casey Cizikas, according to the New York Post, which reported the trio skated together in Saturday's preseason finale against the Devils.

The alignment answers the last open question in coach Pete DeBoer's forward group before Wednesday night's opener in Toronto. The Islanders waived forward Mitchell Chaffee earlier Saturday, clearing a roster spot, then dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen in a 4-1 exhibition loss to New Jersey at UBS Arena, the Post reported.

Who Will Play With Casey Cizikas on the Islanders' Fourth Line?

Cizikas, long the anchor of the Islanders' bottom-six unit, will center Duclair and Palat, per the Post's report from Saturday's game. The paper described the trio as an unlikely fit on paper: Cizikas a straight-line forechecker, Duclair a speed-and-skill winger, and the 35-year-old Palat still working to recapture form from his Tampa Bay Lightning championship years.

Cizikas addressed the mix before the exhibition game. "We all bring something different to the table, which is nice, and it's a lot about communication," he said, according to the Post. "It's a lot about understanding each other and each other's games."

Why Did the Islanders Waive Mitchell Chaffee?

The Post reported the move Saturday without detailing the roster math beyond noting it opened a spot on the game-day lineup against the Devils. Kyle MacLean looks likely to serve as the extra forward once the regular-season roster is finalized, the outlet reported.

What Does Anthony Duclair Bring to the Line?

Duclair, who signed with the Islanders in 2024, has not found a consistent scoring touch in New York but carries a track record of 20-goal seasons the club is still hoping to unlock, according to the Post.

Cizikas framed Duclair's role in blunt terms. "He's got a nose for the net and he's as slick as anybody with that puck," Cizikas said. "So we're gonna try to do everything we can to get him the puck and get him in positions where he's able to get an opportunity."

DeBoer has said he wants more secondary scoring after last season, and the Post noted the Duclair-Palat-Cizikas trio may represent the club's best shot at a fourth line that can finish.

How Did the Preseason Finale Against the Devils Go?

New Jersey beat the Islanders 4-1 at UBS Arena on Sept. 26, the Post reported. The Islanders played the game with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup that produced what the paper called "inconsistent line combinations" throughout the night — a wrinkle common to preseason finales when coaches are still auditioning fringe roster spots rather than running set lines.

What Injuries Are the Islanders Managing Before Opening Night?

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer (upper body) and forward Brayden Schenn (lower body) both sat out the Devils game with what DeBoer described as "tweaks," according to the Post. The report did not specify a timeline for either player's return, and neither injury was described as long-term.

The Post also noted that defensemen Alexander Romanov and Ryan Pulock got game action in the preseason as the pairing works to build chemistry before the regular season, part of a broader set of lineup decisions — including a third-pairing defense battle involving Isaiah George — that the club has been sorting through in exhibition play.

What to Watch as the Season Opens in Toronto

• Whether the Cizikas-Duclair-Palat line stays intact for the Oct. game in Toronto or gets broken up if it struggles early.
• Duclair's shot volume and ice time, given his goal-scoring history and the team's stated need for secondary scoring.
• Updates on Schaefer's and Schenn's availability ahead of opening night.
• Whether Kyle MacLean cracks the opening-night roster as the 12th and 13th forward.

The Islanders play their season opener Wednesday night in Toronto. Full details on the lineup and injury notes are in the New York Post's report.

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