The Islanders fourth line looked like its oddest fit on paper, but for much of Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Maple Leafs, it was their most effective trio. 

Much of that was down to Anthony Duclair. 

In Duclair’s first couple of seasons as an Islander, the nights when he looked like the player they thought they were signing in 2024 have been few and far between, with a torn groin ruining his 2024-25 season before an up-and-mostly-down 2025-26 in which he spent nearly as much time as a healthy scratch as he did in the top six. 

Anthony Duclair (11) of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against Anthony Stolarz (41) of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Getty Images

The question going into camp this year wasn’t whether Duclair would find his 25-goal form so much as whether he would be in the lineup. 

Maybe that was the wrong question. 

At least on opening night, Duclair played with a speed that’s been missing from his game since the groin injury. He drove plays, created chances and earned a promotion from the fourth line to the second. 

“He had good legs tonight,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “So I wanted to reward him. I thought he was working and he was moving. He had some juice there that I thought he could help some of the top guys with his legs.” 

It’s just one game, and there have been false starts here before. How DeBoer configures his lines for Saturday’s home opener against the Devils won’t matter as much as whether Duclair can come out and do it again, and again, and again. 

But under a new coach, with a clean slate and no expectations attached to him, maybe the situation can play to Duclair’s advantage. The Islanders need offense to come from somewhere, and it wasn’t all that long ago they signed Duclair for just that reason, with visions of him completing a top line with Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat. 

No one’s reviving that idea yet — and with Barzal both injured and slated to play center upon his return, Duclair’s not the only reason why — but two years later, the Islanders have continued to struggle dealing with the lineup problem they signed him to solve. 

At least on opening night, Duclair looked capable of doing so. Better late than never. 

Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Toronto Maple Leafs battles for the puck with Anthony Duclair of the New York Islanders in the first period at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Getty Images

Per team statistician Eric Hornick, Matthew Schaefer’s 27:45 of ice time Wednesday was the most by a teenager in an opener since the stat became official in 1997-98. 

The Islanders did not practice Thursday, with two days between games before Saturday’s home opener against the Devils.