Islanders Relish Olympic Break After Grueling Schedule

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee admits the team is "feeling it" after playing 8 games in 13 nights before the NHL's 3-week Olympic break.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The New York Islanders are looking forward to the upcoming 3-week Olympic break after playing a grueling schedule of 8 games in 13 nights, including 3 games in 4 nights across different cities. Captain Anders Lee acknowledged the toll the packed schedule has taken, saying the team is "feeling it". Despite the fatigue, the Islanders managed to go 5-3-0 in that stretch and remain just 1 point behind the Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Why it matters

The Islanders' ability to grind out wins despite the demanding schedule is a testament to their resilience and team chemistry. With the Olympic break, the players will get much-needed rest before the final stretch of the season, which could give them an advantage over other teams that didn't have as light a schedule leading up to the Olympics.

The details

The Islanders' final pre-Olympic game was a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Prior to that, they had fallen to the Capitals in Washington D.C. on Monday, then beat the Penguins 5-4 in overtime at home on Tuesday. The team was outshot 24-14 by the struggling Devils, showing the toll the packed schedule had taken. Defenseman Ryan Pulock credited the team's work ethic for finding ways to win even when they "weren't able to move [their] feet as well".

  • The Islanders played 8 games in 13 nights before the Olympic break.
  • They played 3 games in 4 nights across different cities during that stretch.
  • Their final pre-Olympic game was a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Anders Lee

The captain of the New York Islanders who acknowledged the toll the team's packed schedule has taken.

Bo Horvat

The Islanders forward who scored the game-winning goal with 3:27 left in regulation against the Devils, before joining Team Canada for the Winter Olympics.

Ryan Pulock

An Islanders defenseman who credited the team's work ethic for finding ways to win despite not feeling physically great due to the condensed schedule.

Patrick Roy

The head coach of the New York Islanders, who said the Olympic break will be "good" for the team and that their heavy pre-Olympic schedule might give them an advantage over other teams when they return.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, we're feeling. The boys are feeling it. You could probably tell I'm feeling it.”

— Anders Lee, Captain (amNewYork)

“I think we're feeling it. I know I was. At times, we just weren't able to move our feet as well as we'd like. The schedule has been condensed, and there's a lot of hockey, and sometimes, it becomes a bit of a mental game when you're not feeling great physically. I think a lot of credit is owed to the guys for bearing down. Maybe it's not pretty at all times, but they just worked until we found a way.”

— Ryan Pulock, Defenseman (amNewYork)

“I'm really proud of our group. This group is resilient. [This break is] gonna be good. We know we're going to have a tough schedule coming back, but the fact that we played 58 games might give us a chance to not play as much as some other teams.”

— Patrick Roy, Head Coach (amNewYork)

What’s next

The Islanders will not play again until February 26, when they face the Montreal Canadiens, giving the players much-needed rest and recovery time before the final stretch of the season.

The takeaway

The Islanders' ability to grind out wins despite a grueling pre-Olympic schedule showcases the team's resilience and chemistry. The upcoming break will allow the players to recharge, which could give the Islanders an advantage over other teams as they make a push for the playoffs.