Islanders face former assistant in Kings interim coach Jim Hiller
Interim head coach Jim Hiller of the Los Angeles Kings. Credit: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Kings interim coach Jim Hiller, by definition, has no guarantees with the club past this season. So Monday night’s 3-0 win over the Islanders at Crypto.com Arena may have represented his lone chance to coach against one of his former NHL stops.
Hiller spent three seasons as an Islanders assistant under Barry Trotz from 2019-22 before being fired shortly after Lane Lambert was elevated to replace Trotz. He almost immediately was hired as an assistant to Todd McLellan with the Kings before replacing his former boss on Feb. 2 with the team in a 3-8-6 slide.
The change behind the bench has worked, and the Kings are in third place in the Pacific Division with a 10-5-1 mark under Hiller.
“Jimmy is a good guy,” Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck said. “He loves the game and he’s got a good mind for hockey. He was a fun guy to be around. They’ve got a pretty good one in him. It is cool. He deserves it. He’s been working at this for a long time and I’m happy to see him get a shot.”
Hiller, 54, had been an NHL assistant since 2014 with the Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Islanders and Kings. He is known for directing power plays.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Jimmy as a coach,” Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson said. “Coming in my first couple of years, he really helped me a lot. I’m happy to see him get the job here in LA.”
Fasching in for Martin
Left wing Matt Martin (lower body) is day-to-day with a lingering issue. Hudson Fasching logged 10:19 with one shot on a second-period odd-man rush as he filled Martin’s spot on the fourth line.
It marked Fasching’s first game for the Islanders since Jan. 25 as he dealt with a lower-body injury. Fasching did have one goal in a recent three-game conditioning stint with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
“It felt good to be back out there,” he said. “My legs felt pretty good.”
“For a guy that hasn’t played, I thought he played a good game,” coach Patrick Roy said. “That line was really good.”
As for Martin, Roy would not speculate on any long-term concerns.
“He’s had that for a while,” Roy said. “I guess it was a little worse. Day-to-day.”
Isles files
Right wing Kyle Palmieri logged 18:12 with two shots in his 800th NHL game. Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau was on the ice for 16:34 and won 10 of 15 faceoffs in his 700th contest . . . Right wing Mathew Barzal had his point streak snapped at seven games. Brock Nelson’s point streak ended at five and Palmieri’s point streak was snapped at four . . . Defenseman Samuel Bolduc and forward Oliver Wahlstrom remained healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
