2025–26 New York Islanders season

National Hockey League season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 New York Islanders season was the 54th season in the franchise's history.[1] It was their fifth season in UBS Arena.[2]

Division6th Metropolitan
Conference12th Eastern
2025–26 record43–34–5
Home record22–16–2
Quick facts New York Islanders, Division ...
2025–26 New York Islanders
Division6th Metropolitan
Conference12th Eastern
2025–26 record43–34–5
Home record22–16–2
Road record21–18–3
Goals for233
Goals against241
Team information
General managerMathieu Darche
CoachPatrick Roy (Oct. 9 – Apr. 5)
Peter DeBoer (Apr. 5 – Apr. 14)
CaptainAnders Lee
Alternate captainsBo Horvat
Kyle Palmieri
Ryan Pulock
ArenaUBS Arena
Minor league affiliatesBridgeport Islanders (AHL)
Worcester Railers (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsBo Horvat (31)
AssistsMathew Barzal (53)
PointsMathew Barzal (72)
Penalty minutesScott Mayfield (83)
Plus/minusMatthew Schaefer (+13)
WinsIlya Sorokin (29)
Goals against averageIlya Sorokin (2.68)
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On April 5, 2026, head coach Patrick Roy was fired with four games remaining in the season, after a 42–31–5 start and having lost seven of the last 10 games prior to his dismissal.[3] Veteran NHL coach Peter DeBoer was named as his replacement the same day.[4]

On April 12, the Islanders were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season after a 4–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.[5]

The main story of the season centered around rookie defenceman, Matthew Schaefer, who was drafted first overall by the team in the 2025 NHL entry draft.[6] Schaefer finished the season with 23 goals, tying Brian Leetch's single season record for most goals scored by a rookie defenceman.[7] This culminated in Schaefer winning the 2025-26 Calder Memorial Trophy, becoming the 1st player since Teemu Selanne in the 1992-93 season to win the award unanimously.[8]

Standings

Divisional standings

More information Pos, GP ...
Metropolitan Division
Pos Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 z – Carolina Hurricanes 82 53 22 7 39 296 240 +56 113
2 x – Pittsburgh Penguins 82 41 25 16 34 293 268 +25 98
3 x – Philadelphia Flyers 82 43 27 12 27 250 243 +7 98
4 Washington Capitals 82 43 30 9 37 263 244 +19 95
5 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 40 30 12 28 253 253 0 92
6 New York Islanders 82 43 34 5 29 233 241 −8 91
7 New Jersey Devils 82 42 37 3 29 230 254 −24 87
8 New York Rangers 82 34 39 9 25 238 250 −12 77
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Source: National Hockey League[9]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot; z – Clinched conference

Conference standings

More information Pos, Div ...
Eastern Conference Wild Card
Pos Div Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 AT x – Boston Bruins 82 45 27 10 33 272 250 +22 100
2 AT x – Ottawa Senators 82 44 27 11 38 278 246 +32 99
3 ME Washington Capitals 82 43 30 9 37 263 244 +19 95
4 AT Detroit Red Wings 82 41 31 10 30 241 258 −17 92
5 ME Columbus Blue Jackets 82 40 30 12 28 253 253 0 92
6 ME New York Islanders 82 43 34 5 29 233 241 −8 91
7 ME New Jersey Devils 82 42 37 3 29 230 254 −24 87
8 AT Florida Panthers 82 40 38 4 32 251 276 −25 84
9 AT Toronto Maple Leafs 82 32 36 14 23 253 299 −46 78
10 ME New York Rangers 82 34 39 9 25 238 250 −12 77
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Source: National Hockey League[10]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot

Schedule and results

Preseason

The New York Islanders preseason schedule was released on June 24, 2025.[11]

More information #, Date ...
2025 preseason game log: 2–2–2 (home: 0–1–2; road: 2–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecord
1September 21Philadelphia3–2NY IslandersSOGahagenUBS Arena8,3480–0–1
2September 23NY Islanders2–6New JerseyHogbergPrudential Center8,0760–1–1
3September 25NY Islanders5–4NY RangersHogbergMadison Square Garden17,2461–1–1
4September 26New Jersey4–2NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena10,1301–2–1
5September 29NY Rangers2–3NY IslandersOTRittichUBS Arena12,8771–2–2
6October 2NY Islanders4–3PhiladelphiaSorokinXfinity Mobile Arena12,5302–2–2
Legend:

  = Win   = Loss   = OT/SO Loss

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Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on July 16, 2025.[12]

More information #, Date ...
2025–26 game log
October: 5–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–3–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 9NY Islanders3–4PittsburghSorokinPPG Paints Arena16,1070–1–00[13]
2October 11Washington4–2NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,2550–2–00[14]
3October 13Winnipeg5–2NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena13,2870–3–00[15]
4October 16Edmonton2–4NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena14,8371–3–02[16]
5October 18NY Islanders5–4OttawaSorokinCanadian Tire Centre15,9292–3–04[17]
6October 21San Jose3–4NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena15,8323–3–06[18]
7October 23Detroit2–7NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena14,4954–3–08[19]
8October 25NY Islanders3–4PhiladelphiaSOSorokinXfinity Mobile Arena16,6404–3–19[20]
9October 28NY Islanders2–5BostonSorokinTD Garden17,8504–4–19[21]
10October 30NY Islanders2–6CarolinaRittichLenovo Center18,2994–5–19[22]
11October 31NY Islanders3–1WashingtonSorokinCapital One Arena16,4715–5–111[23]
November: 8–5–2 (home: 2–4–2; road: 6–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
12November 2Columbus2–3NY IslandersRiitichUBS Arena14,9846–5–113[24]
13November 4Boston4–3NY IslandersSOSorokinUBS Arena15,5856–5–214[25]
14November 7Minnesota5–2NY IslandersRiitichUBS Arena15,7926–6–214[26]
15November 8NY Islanders5–0NY RangersSorokinMadison Square Garden18,0067–6–216[27]
16November 10NY Islanders3–2New JerseyOTSorokinPrudential Center16,5148–6–218[28]
17November 13NY Islanders4–3VegasOTSorokinT-Mobile Arena17,7339–6–220[29]
18November 14NY Islanders3–2UtahOTRittichDelta Center12,47810–6–222[30]
19November 16NY Islanders1–4ColoradoSorokinBall Arena18,10910–7–222[31]
20November 18NY Islanders3–2DallasRittichAmerican Airlines Center18,53211–7–224[32]
21November 20NY Islanders5–0DetroitSorokinLittle Caesars Arena18,91812–7–226[33]
22November 22St. Louis2–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25512–8–226[34]
23November 23Seattle0–1NY IslandersSORittichUBS Arena17,25513–8–228[35]
24November 26Boston3–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25513–9–228[36]
25November 28Philadelphia4–3NY IslandersSORittichUBS Arena17,25513–9–329[37]
26November 30Washington4–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena15,64813–10–329[38]
December: 9–4–1 (home: 7–1–0; road: 2–3–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
27December 2Tampa Bay1–2NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena13,01414–10–331[39]
28December 4Colorado3–6NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena14,49715–10–333[40]
29December 6NY Islanders2–0Tampa BaySorokinBenchmark International Arena19,09216–10–335[41]
30December 7NY Islanders1–4FloridaRittichAmerant Bank Arena19,33416–11–335[42]
31December 9Vegas4–5NY IslandersSOSorokinUBS Arena13,51417–11–337[43]
32December 11Anaheim2–5NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena14,52718–11–339[44]
33December 13Tampa Bay2–3NY IslandersSOSorokinUBS Arena17,25519–11–341[45]
34December 16NY Islanders2–3DetroitSorokinLittle Caesars Arena19,51519–12–341[46]
35December 19Vancouver4–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25519–13–341[47]
36December 20NY Islanders2–3BuffaloSORittichKeyBank Center19,07019–13–442[48]
37December 23New Jersey1–2NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25520–13–444[49]
38December 27NY Rangers0–2NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25521–13–446[50]
39December 28NY Islanders2–4ColumbusRittichNationwide Arena18,22321–14–446[51]
40December 30NY Islanders3–2ChicagoSORittichUnited Center19,60322–14–448[52]
January: 8–6–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 5–3–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
41January 1Utah7–2NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25522–15–1448[53]
42January 3Toronto3–4NY IslandersOTRittichUBS Arena17,25523–15–450[54]
43January 6New Jersey0–9NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25524–15–452[55]
44January 8NY Islanders1–2NashvilleSORittichBridgestone Arena17,15924–15–553[56]
45January 10NY Islanders4–3MinnesotaOTSorokinGrand Casino Arena19,03625–15–555[57]
46January 13NY Islanders4–5WinnipegSorokinCanada Life Centre14,11425–16–555[58]
47January 15NY Islanders1–0EdmontonSorokinRogers Place18,14426–16–557[59]
48January 17NY Islanders2–4CalgaryRittichScotiabank Saddledome17,35826–17–557[60]
49January 19NY Islanders4–3VancouverSorokinRogers Arena18,50327–17–559[61]
50January 21NY Islanders1–4SeattleSorokinClimate Pledge Arena17,15127–18–559[62]
51January 24Buffalo5–0NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25527–19–559[63]
52January 26NY Islanders4–0PhiladelphiaSorokinXfinity Mobile Arena17,94228–19–561[64]
53January 28NY Rangers2–5NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25529–19–563[65]
54January 29NY Islanders2–1NY RangersSorokinMadison Square Garden18,00630–19–565[66]
55January 31Nashville4–3NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25530–20–565[67]
February: 4–1–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 3–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
56February 2NY Islanders1–4WashingtonRittichCapital One Arena17,54530–21–565[68]
57February 3Pittsburgh4–5NY IslandersOTSorokinUBS Arena17,25531–21–567[69]
58February 5NY Islanders3–1New JerseySorokinPrudential Center16,51432–21–569[70]
59February 26NY Islanders4–3MontrealOTSorokinBell Centre20,96233–21–571[71]
60February 28NY Islanders4-3ColumbusOTSorokinNationwide Arena18,92534–21–573[72]
March: 8–8–0 (home: 5–3–0; road: 3–5–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
61March 1Florida4–5NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25535–21–575[73]
62March 4NY Islanders1–5AnaheimRittichHonda Center14,19635–22–575[74]
63March 5NY Islanders3–5Los AngelesSorokinCrypto.com Arena17,07835–23–575[75]
64March 7NY Islanders2–1San JoseOTSorokinSAP Center17,43536–23–577[76]
65March 10NY Islanders4–3St. LouisOTSorokinEnterprise Center18,09637–23–579[77]
66March 13Los Angeles3–2NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25537–24–579[78]
67March 14Calgary2–3NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena17,25538–24–581[79]
68March 17NY Islanders3–1TorontoSorokinScotiabank Arena18,94939–24–583[80]
69March 19NY Islanders2–3OttawaSorokinCanadian Tire Centre16,78539–25–583[81]
70March 21NY Islanders3–7MontrealSorokinBell Centre20,96239–26–583[82]
71March 22Columbus0–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25540–26–585[83]
72March 24Chicago4–3NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25540–27–585[84]
73March 26Dallas1–2NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25541–27–587[85]
74March 28Florida2–5NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,22542–27–589[86]
75March 30Pittsburgh8–3NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25542–28–589[87]
76March 31NY Islanders3–4BuffaloSorokinKeyBank Center19,07042–29–589[88]
April: 1–5–0 (home: 1–4–0; road: 0–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
77April 3Philadelphia4–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25542–30–589[89]
78April 4NY Islanders3–4CarolinaSorokinLenovo Center18,56742–31–589[90]
79April 9Toronto3–5NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25543–31–591[91]
80April 11Ottawa3–0NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena17,25543–32–591[92]
81April 12Montreal4–1NY IslandersSorokinUBS Arena16,91843–33–591[93]
82April 14Carolina2–1NY IslandersRittichUBS Arena15,23143–34–591[94]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   OT/SO loss (1 point)

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Player statistics

Skaters

More information Player, GP ...
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Goaltenders

More information Player, GP ...
Regular season[96]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Ilya Sorokin55543226:10292421442.681530.9067014
David Rittich30281651:2114103762.76720.8942000
Marcus Hogberg1013:2900028.907.7140000
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  • † Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Islanders. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
  • ‡ Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
  • Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honors

Awards

More information Player, Award ...
Regular season
PlayerAwardDate
Matthew Schaefer Calder Memorial Trophy May 13, 2026[97]
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Milestones

More information Player, Milestone ...
Regular season
PlayerMilestoneDate
Matthew Schaefer 1st NHL Game October 9, 2025[98]
Matthew Schaefer 1st NHL Assist/Point October 9, 2025[99]
Maxim Shabanov 1st NHL Game October 9, 2025[100]
Maxim Shabanov 1st NHL Goal/Point October 9, 2025[101]
Matthew Schaefer 1st NHL Goal October 11, 2025[102]
Casey Cizikas 900th NHL Game October 13, 2026[103]
Jean-Gabriel Pageau 800th NHL Game October 13, 2026[104]
Maxim Shabanov 1st NHL Assist October 18, 2025[105]
Scott Mayfield 100th NHL Assist October 23, 2025[106]
Marshall Warren 1st NHL Game October 25, 2025[107]
Marshall Warren 1st NHL Assist/Point October 25, 2025[108]
Bo Horvat 300th NHL Assist November 10, 2025[109]
Calum Ritchie 1st NHL Assist November 20, 2025[110]
Adam Boqvist 100th NHL Point November 20, 2025[111]
Travis Mitchell 1st NHL Game November 28, 2025[112]
Travis Mitchell 1st NHL Goal/Point December 11, 2025[113]
Emil Heineman 100th NHL Game December 16, 2025[114]
Ryan Pulock 600th NHL Game December 30, 2025[115]
Adam Pelech 600th NHL Game December 30, 2025[116]
Maxim Tsyplakov 100th NHL Game January 3, 2026[117]
Simon Holmstrom 100th NHL Point January 10, 2026[118]
Mathew Barzal 500th NHL Point January 15, 2026[119]
Anders Lee 300th NHL Goal January 17, 2026[120]
Bo Horvat 600th NHL Point February 5, 2026[121]
Anders Lee 900th NHL Game February 26, 2026[122]
Tony DeAngelo 200th NHL Assist March 1, 2026[123]
Scott Mayfield 600th NHL Game March 14, 2026[124]
Mathew Barzal 600th NHL Game March 22, 2026[125]
Ilya Sorokin 300th NHL Game March 27, 2026[126]
Ondrej Palat 900th NHL Game March 31, 2026[127]
Jean-Gabriel Pageau 400th NHL Point April 4, 2026[128]
Brayden Schenn 1100th NHL Game April 11, 2026[129]
Bo Horvat 300th NHL Goal April 14, 2026[130]
Victor Eklund 1st NHL Game April 14, 2026[131]
Victor Eklund 1st NHL Assist/Point April 14, 2026[132]
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Records

More information Player, Milestone ...
Regular season
PlayerMilestoneDate
Ilya Sorokin Most Shutouts in New York Islanders History January 6, 2026[133]
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Transactions

The Islanders have been involved in the following transactions during the 2025–26 season.

Key:

 †  Contract is entry-level.
 ‡  Contract initially takes effect in the 2026–27 season.

Trade

More information Date, Details ...
DateDetailsRef
June 27, 2025 (2025-06-27) To Montreal Canadiens
Noah Dobson		 To New York Islanders
Emil Heineman
1st-round pick in 2025
CGY 1st-round pick in 2025		 [134]
January 26, 2025 (2025-01-26) To New York Islanders
Carson Soucy		 To New York Rangers
3rd-round pick in 2026		 [135]
January 27, 2026 (2026-01-27) To New Jersey Devils
Maxim Tsyplakov		 To New York Islanders
Ondrej Palat
3rd-round pick in 2026
6th-round pick in 2027		 [136]
February 24, 2026 (2026-02-24) To New York Islanders
Matt Luff		 To St. Louis Blues
Julien Gauthier		 [137]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06) To New York Islanders
Brayden Schenn		 To St. Louis Blues
Jonathan Drouin
Marcus Gidlof
COL 1st-round pick in 2026
NJD 3rd-round pick in 2026		 [138]
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Free agents

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTeamContract termRef
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Ethan Bearfrom Washington Capitals1-year[139]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Jonathan Drouinfrom Colorado Avalanche2-year[140]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Matthew Highmorefrom Ottawa Senators1-year[139]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Cole McWardfrom Vancouver Canucks1-year[139]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)David Rittichfrom Los Angeles Kings1-year[141]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Scott Perunovichto Utah Mammoth1-year[142]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Mike Reillyto Carolina Hurricanes1-year[143]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Maxim Shabanovfrom Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)1-year†[144]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Samuel Bolducto Los Angeles Kings1-year[145]
July 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)Jakub Skarekto San Jose Sharks1-year[146]
August 18, 2025 (2025-08-18)Hudson Faschingto Columbus Blue Jackets1-year[147]
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Waivers

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTeamRef
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More information Date, Player ...
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Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerContract termRef
June 29, 2025 (2025-06-29)Julien Gauthier1-year[148]
June 29, 2025 (2025-06-29)Liam Foudy1-year[149]
June 30, 2025 (2025-06-30)Alexander Romanov8-year[150]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Simon Holmstrom2-year[151]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Tony DeAngelo1-year[152]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Emil Heineman2-year[153]
July 6, 2025 (2025-07-06)Marc Gatcomb1-year[154]
July 14, 2025 (2025-07-14)Victor Eklund3-year†[155]
July 25, 2025 (2025-07-25)Maxim Tsyplakov2-year[156]
August 4, 2025 (2025-08-04)Matthew Schaefer3-year†[157]
September 2, 2025 (2025-09-02)Daniil Prokhorov3-year†[158]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06)Jean-Gabriel Pageau3-year‡[159]
March 17, 2026 (2026-03-17)Kashawn Aitcheson3-year†‡[160]
March 18, 2026 Cole Eiserman 3-year†‡ [161]
March 24, 2026 Josh Kotai 2-year†‡ [162]
April 15, 2026 Quinn Finley 2-year†‡ [163]
May 26, 2026 Liam Foudy 1-year‡ [164]
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Key

† Contract is entry-level.

‡ Contract takes effect in the 2026–27 season.

Draft picks

See also: List of New York Islanders draft picks

Below are the New York Islanders' selections at the 2025 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 27 and 28, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

More information Round, # ...
Round # Player Pos Nationality College/junior/club team
1 1 Matthew Schaefer D  Canada Erie Otters (OHL)
1 16 Victor Eklund RW  Sweden Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
1 17 Kashawn Aitcheson D  Canada Barrie Colts (OHL)
2 42 Daniil Prokhorov RW  Russia HC Dinamo Saint Petersburg (MHL)
3 74 Luca Romano C  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
4 104 Tomas Poletin LW  Czech Republic Lahti Pelicans (Liiga)
5 138 Sam Laurila D  United States Fargo Force (USHL)
6 170 Burke Hood G  Canada Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7 202 Jacob Kvasnicka RW  United States U.S. NTDP (USHL)
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Notes

References

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