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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Once you got past the Semyon Varlamov of it all on Tuesday, there was the matter of the hockey the Islanders played in beating the Predators 4-3 in a shootout .

After coach Pete DeBoer went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen and essentially challenged his team following a loss in Dallas he said was their first poor performance all season, the Islanders responded in kind.

It wasn’t perfect — actually, it was nearly disastrous, as the Islanders fumbled a 3-0 lead , then failed to score with nearly four minutes at 4-on-3 in overtime — but DeBoer’s side had the qualities they’d lacked against the Stars.

Kyle Palmieri scores a goal in the shootout during the Islanders’ 4-3 win over the Predators on Oct. 27, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

They were up ice and physical, their passes crisp and their battle level high.…