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Islanders rookie Victor Eklund made his regular-season debut on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, skating 11:38 of ice time despite facing off against Auston Matthews’ top line early in the game. Despite some initial struggles and sitting for the final minutes, head coach Pete DeBoer praised Eklund's improvement as the game progressed and noted missed scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, the team provided an update on star Mat Barzal’s recovery from a left kneecap injury, indicating he will begin skating early next week with continued optimism about his return timeline.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Wednesday night, with goals from Easton Cowan and Colton Sissons. Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in his season debut for the Leafs after a challenging previous year marked by injuries and missed playoffs. The victory was particularly crucial for the Leafs, who had lost their opening game to the Montreal Canadiens. For the Islanders, it was their first loss of the season, highlighting defensive issues that were exacerbated despite standout performances from rookie Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund. Up next, the Islanders host New Jersey while the Maple Leafs face Ottawa on Saturday night. Both teams showed promise but also areas needing improvement in their respective opening games.
Written for “Islanders Vs Maple Leafs Season Opener” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
The most surprised person to learn that Victor Eklund made the Islanders roster out of camp might have been Victor Eklund himself.
uncertain
Eklund → learn → camp
Even late in the preseason, once it became an open secret that he’d made the team, Eklund didn’t let himself get caught up in it.
asserted
himself → become → it
So when he was told he’d be with the Islanders as they opened the season on Wednesday here in Toronto with a 2-1 loss to the Leafs, he felt the full weight of the accomplishment.
asserted
he → tell → accomplishment
“It was kind of a shock,” Eklund told The Post.
asserted
Eklund → tell → Post
“I just tried to play to my best every day.
asserted
I → try → best
I didn’t feel like I was safe at any time.”
asserted
I → feel → time
Ironic, given that less than an hour before that conversation, general manager Mathieu Darche had described the decision by calling it the obvious thing to do.
asserted
Darche → give → it
But while Eklund came into camp as an underdog to make the roster, his inclusion was the obvious move by the end of it.
asserted
inclusion → come → it
His play, combined with the spot opened up by Mat Barzal’s injury, made it so.
asserted
it → combine → injury
Eklund ultimately skated 11:38 in his first meaningful NHL minutes — his debut last year came in a meaningless Game 82 — getting thrown straight into the fire as Toronto coach Jim Hiller matched his top line of Auston Matthews, Kirill Marchenko and Jack Roslovic with Eklund’s line.
asserted
Hiller → skate → line
Unsurprisingly given that context, it took him some time to look comfortable, and Eklund sat the final 7:34 as Pete DeBoer cut down his bench.
asserted
DeBoer → give → bench
The Islanders’ coach, though, still had good things to say about the rookie’s performance.
asserted
coach → have → performance
“I thought he got better as the game went on,” DeBoer said.
asserted
DeBoer → think → ?
“… He had a couple looks too.
asserted
He → have → looks
He could’ve scored.
uncertain
He → score → ?
I had no problem with his game at all.”
asserted
I → have → game
Mat Barzal (left kneecap) has made “really, really good progress,” according to general manager Mathieu Darche, and is expected to begin skating “early next week at the latest.”
uncertain
Barzal → make → latest
Darche indicated the Islanders “took a step back” from the original timeline, which indicated Barzal would begin skating now, but continued to project optimism.
asserted
Barzal → indicate → optimism
Once Barzal does start skating, the next step is to make sure his knee still has no inflammation, and the Islanders can move forward from there.
asserted
Islanders → start → inflammation
Long Island resident Nick Leopard, the founder and CEO of Accordion, an AI-focused financial consulting firm is the lead investor of the group that bought a 15 percent share in the team, The Post confirmed.
asserted
Post → focus → team
According to Sports Business Journal, which first reported Leopard’s identity, both he and David Shuman, whose minority stake was announced by the Islanders in late August, have been approved by the NHL.
uncertain
stake → accord → NHL
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