Patrick Roy's reshuffling of Isles' lines has been effective
Alex Lyon of the Red Wings reacts after letting in a first period goal next to Pierre Engvall of the Islanders at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday in Detroit. Credit: Getty Images/Gregory Shamus
Patrick Roy wanted to get more speed on his top line when he revamped all four of his lines two games ago.
Paradoxically, the Islanders’ coach has created better balance throughout his lineup despite having his three top goal-scorers working together.
So it’s no coincidence that the Islanders bring their second two-game winning streak since Dec. 13 into Saturday night’s game against the Bruins — who are vying for the most points in the NHL — at UBS Arena.
The Islanders swept a two-game road trip with a 3-2 overtime win in Dallas on Monday night and Thursday night’s 5-3 win in Detroit.
“We just stuck with it and didn’t try to force anything,” said left wing Pierre Engvall, who has played two of his better games this season since being placed on a line with center Casey Cizikas and Simon Holmstrom. “We just kept playing and we got the goals we needed to get the win.”
Engvall had only six goals and 11 assists in 51 games before Roy put his lines in a blender. He now has a two-game point streak, including clinching Thursday’s win with the Islanders’ first empty-net goal of the season.
“For the team?” Engvall asked incredulously when informed of that. “No, I didn’t know that. It’s good to get the first one.”
Roy has dubbed Engvall and Holmstrom his “Swedish connection,” and Engvall was on the ice for two of the Islanders’ goals in each of the last two games.
According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the newly formed Cizikas line was on the ice for 10:46 at five-on-five against the Red Wings — the second most behind the 13:09 Bo Horvat skated with Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal as the top unit — and their Corsi For percentage of .4706 easily led the four lines.
Cizikas also had a goal against the Red Wings, tipping defenseman Adam Pelech’s point shot to build a 2-0 lead in the first period.
“They’re fast,” Roy said of his new third line. “They’re skating fast. They work together. They enjoy playing together. They play well together and they’re fun to watch.”
Before Roy switched his lines, the Islanders had received only 36 goals and 49 assists from the seven forwards who most commonly comprised their bottom six.
Of course, if Cizikas’ line continues to outplay Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s new trio with Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee — who have a combined one assist in their two games together — delineating between the second and third lines will be a tough task.
Notes & quotes: Goalie Ilya Sorokin and defenseman Ryan Pulock were given Friday’s practice off for rest. Sorokin is expected to make his fourth straight start Saturday . . . Forward Hudson Fasching (long-term injured reserve, lower body) rejoined the Islanders for practice after a three-game conditioning stint with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield (lower body) did not practice after not joining the Islanders on their two-game road trip. He will miss his fourth game.
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.
