The New York Islanders added speedy winger Anthony Duclair and KHL winger Maxim Tsyplakov this past offseason, giving coach Patrick Roy the ability to form two potent forward lines.
The Islanders will test that newfound depth when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Duclair (two goals, one assist) has been a natural fit with center Bo Horvat (one goal, one assist) and play-making winger Mathew Barzal (one goal, one assist) on the top line during the Islanders’ 1-1-1 start.
The group draws a lot of defensive attention, but the second line has been productive as well. Tsyplakov (one goal, one assist) and veteran Kyle Palmieri (one goal, one assist) have clicked with center Brock Nelson (two goals, one assist).
Nelson has been impressed with Tsyplakov’s adjustment since coming from Russia.
“I think he’s just comfortable communicating, which I imagine it’s an extremely hard thing going into a different environment, second language,” Nelson said. “I think he’s comfortable asking questions, talking to us.
“He can make a lot of plays, trying to support and get to know him chemistry-wise and read and react off one another to build our game.”
Roy noted that the Islanders’ depth allows the team to put Tsyplakov in a position to succeed.
“Max is lucky,” Roy said. “He’s playing with two great vets. I’m very happy for Nellie because Nellie’s been playing really well. … They’ve been playing very well since they’ve been together, but I’m very happy for them, because sometimes you’re not always rewarded for what you’re doing.”
Meanwhile, the Blues are looking for more offense and tighter defense after starting the season 2-2. They have fallen behind by multiple goals in all four games and failed to catch up in their last two.
The Blues are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
“For 40 minutes we played some good hockey, and the goal in the third period took the wind out of our sails pretty quick,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said.
“I think there’s still some areas in the game where we could have probably tightened it up and kind of put more pressure on them even,” Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. “I think we were a little sloppy with the puck coming out of our zone and just kind of coming through the neutral zone and what not where we probably could have put our foot down a little bit more knowing they were a short-handed group tonight.”
The Blues had two goals disallowed. The first, Jordan Kyrou scored on a loose puck just after the officials whistled the play dead. On the second, Ryan Suter scored just after the second period ended.
“I think we had a lot of chances there and we couldn’t capitalize,” Kyrou said. “We let them get that one and they got a lucky break there on the power play and we just kind of let it get away from us.
“We were playing fast, aggressive, playing in the o-zone, playing quick, moving the puck, attacking the net, getting shots on net, driving the net. I like that part of our game.”
–Field Level Media
