The team’s focus was all on Sunday night as the Islanders resumed their season against the Dallas Stars at UBS Arena after a two-week break for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-off Tournament while getting defensemen Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield back into the lineup.

Defensemen Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield will return from injury against the Dallas Stars on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET, Victory+, MSGSN). Pulock, who missed seven games with an upper-body injury, has 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) and is plus-7 in 48 games while averaging 21:55 of ice time. He will be paired with Scott Perunovich.

Read the recent NHL news and rumors about Ryan Pulock for fantasy hockey. New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (upper body) is expected to

The Islanders are up on the season series 1-0-0 after a 4-1 win over the Sharks on Jan. 18, which kicked off a season-long, seven-game winning streak for the Isles. New York 5-0-4 in its last nine games against the Sharks, including 2-0-2 on the road.

If this final game before the trade deadline doubled as the final game in Islanders colors for Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, then it was a good one.

Jonny Brodzinski notched two goals and an assist in leading the Rangers to a 5-1 stomping over the Islanders on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.

The Islanders are seven points from a playoff spot. They are four points from the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With 25 games to go and an increasing number of points and teams to overcome, that is all the discussion one needs to have.

As we approach the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the New York Islanders have a surplus of defensemen. It would likely be in the Islanders' best interest to not carry eight defensemen, nine when Mike Reilly is ready to return.