Palmieri's Game Poised for Playoffs

Kyle Palmieri's game had been rounding into form in the weeks leading up to the playoffs and on Sunday afternoon, the veteran forward showed the New York Islanders just what kind of impact he can have.
Palmieri scored two goals, including the OT winner in the Islanders' 4-3 Game 1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The winger showcased his shot with a top-corner snipe to open the scoring in the first period and his nose for the net in OT, driving hard to the slot on the game winner before threading the needle over Tristan Jarry's shoulder.

Those two skills made him an attractive trade deadline acquisition and also happen to fit into the Islanders' team ethos.
"He is an Islander," JG Pageau said, paying Palmieri a post-game compliment. "He's so competitive, winning all of his battles, being hard on pucks. That's how we play the game and he fits right in. He was our best player tonight. I thought he was solid in every aspect of his game and that's why he got so many chances."

Palmieri's two goals in Game 1 equaled his total from 17 regular season games for the Islanders after being acquired on April 7. That slowdown in production for a five-time 20-goal scorer was partially put down to the adjustment period for a player trying to integrate without much practice time in a condensed season.
"Coming in at the time of the year that I did, you're pretty focused on rest and getting ready for the playoffs, so it was good to get a couple of practices in, get some touches and get a little more familiar with the system," Palmieri said. "All in all, we've benefitted a lot from being able to practice and work on the details on our game."
It was clear as the season wound down, the veteran forward was finding his groove. His goal against the New Jersey Devils on May 8, where he chased down a lob pass, deked around and barreled into Mackenzie Blackwood, showed the type of grittiness and finesse that characterized his game. A week's worth of practice on top of that allowed Palmieri to get further acquainted with the nuances of Barry Trotz's system.
"I'm really glad for [Palmieri]," Trotz said on Sunday. "I know he probably put a little undue pressure [on himself] when he joined us. We knew when the games got tight and you have to go to the dirty areas a guy like him is able to produce and he was able to do that tonight."
If anyone could relate to Palmieri's situation, it was Pageau.
Last season, Pageau was acquired by the Islanders at the trade deadline to much fanfare, but while he was embraced wholeheartedly by the organization, needed a little time to integrate. Pageau had that chance during the NHL's COVID pause and benefitted from a mini training camp before the bubble, where he effectively burst onto the scene with eight goals, including three in the qualifying round vs Florida.

"If you look at the two trade deadline acquisitions, last year Pageau, this year Palmieri, they're veteran guys that are proven," Trotz said. "When it comes to playoff hockey, in big moments you rely on their experience and their character is exceptional."
Pageau also had an effective game on Sunday, as he recorded three points (1G, 2A), took a team-high five shots, took 26 faceoffs and threw five hits. Both Pageau and Palmieri are under 6'0, but play big and don't shy away from the hard areas. Along with a big-bodied gunslinger in rookie Oliver Wahlstrom, the trio make up a hard-working and hard-to-defend line.
"We're pretty similar players, we like to get the puck north-south and for the most part, we're all pretty responsible defensively," Palmieri said. "We go out, we compete, we battle, sometimes you're going to get breaks and offensive looks, but at the same time as a line we're trying to create some energy and be a line who has an impact on the game."
Palmieri, who became the first Long Island-born player to score a playoff goal for the Islanders and first Islander to score two goals in his playoff debut with the team, wasn't getting carried away by the success of one game. He showed his Islanders mindset of parking it and moving forward, but with one playoff appearance in the previous five years, Palmieri was appreciative of the opportunity and plans to leave it all out there.
"The opportunity to be in the playoffs is something I don't take for granted," Palmieri said. "Obviously it's hard to get here and we came on the road with a mission. We were able to go out there tonight and find a way to win."