Hitting one statistical milestone on Wednesday was a formality for Kyle Palmieri, whereas hitting another required something to go his way against the Penguins in the season finale.
But the 33-year-old winger who has seen his fair share of injuries in the past was more focused with playing in 82 games for just the second time in his career than he was on hitting 30 goals and tying a career-high set in 2016.
“It’s big,” Palmieri told The Post on Wednesday morning. “There’s a lot of wear and tear, especially as you get older, you’re playing hard minutes — it’s hard. And sometimes it’s out of your control. Fortunate enough to be healthy and dressing for number 82.”
He ended up doing both, netting his 30th goal on a power-play one-timer from the left circle at 19:44 of the second period in the eventual 5-4 Islanders victory while playing the 82nd game was, of course, a formality.
Palmieri joined Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat as 30-goal scorers this season, marking the first time since 1993-94 that the Isles have had at least three players reach the milestone.
It was the second time Palmieri has reached 30 goals and No. 30 meant he finished the year with 54 points, the second-highest total of his career.
That is, in large part, a coincidence of good health as much as anything changing dramatically on the ice.
“Very happy for Palms,” coach Patrick Roy said. “He’s been a leader on our team. He’s been playing so well. Seeing him be rewarded with that goal — phenomenal passing before he got that one-timer — it’s nice to see him be in that position.”
Late in the year especially, Palmieri has been a difference-maker.
He had 12 points (six goals, five assists) in the season’s final 10 games and had gone scoreless in just one of those matches.
“Obviously when we’re in the position we were in, try and elevate your game as much as you can,” he said. “Realistically, doing my best to try and help my team win hockey games. Some of them have been really just staying focused and keeping it simple and putting pucks to the net. That formula doesn’t really change for me.”
Given the Islanders’ position in the standings on April 1, it’s unlikely they would have made a charge into the postseason without Palmieri getting hot.
This was a case in which every contribution from every player was sorely needed, and Palmieri has arguably been their MVP in April.
“He’s putting the puck in, in his opportunities,” Anders Lee said. “He gets chances every night, but he’s had some really big moments. I think of the Philly game [the game-winning assist in overtime], I think of the Montreal game [the game-winning goal in overtime] and then I think he’s just doing a great job of finding his spots and pouncing on rebounds or putting a perfect shot or making a great play.
“So I think he’s taking advantage of his opportunities. I think when you see that, you see a guy that’s playing with great confidence and great ability right now. That’s great timing for us.”
It goes without saying that Palmieri continuing this level of play in the postseason would be a dramatic help to the Islanders’ chances of pulling a Round 1 upset on Carolina.
He does have a history of elevating his game in the playoffs, tying Brock Nelson for the team lead with seven goals in the 2021 postseason.
The numbers confirm that this is, indeed, one of Palmieri’s best seasons — he came into Wednesday tied for the second-most points of his career.
So too does his own assessment. But in his mind, it’s less because of goals and assists and more because of availability.
“I’m really just feeling confident and preparing my body the best I can,” Palmieri said. “Obviously been pretty fortunate to not have anything creep up. For me, it’s really just about trying to be in the lineup every night and help my team win.”
