Barry Trotz cuts Oliver Wahlstrom's minutes over 'details'
Islanders right wing Oliver Wahlstrom during training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow on Sept. 25. Credit: Brad Penner
Oliver Wahlstrom logged a season-low 8:33 in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Lightning at Amalie Arena on Monday night, and coach Barry Trotz said he likely would have sat Wahlstrom had Casey Cizikas not been sidelined with a non-COVID-19 illness.
"You look the last couple of games, shorthanded goals, there were a ton of mistakes that he needs to clean up," Trotz said. "He’s forgotten some of his details in the last little while and it hasn’t been real pretty. He was much better today, but his minutes were down."
Wahlstrom took one shot. So did Kieffer Bellows in 10:12 as he played his third game this season, drawing into the lineup with Cizikas unavailable. Bellows played on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s line with Josh Bailey. Wahlstrom played on the fourth line, with Cal Clutterbuck sliding to the middle to take Cizikas’ usual role.
Trotz also moved Zach Parise to Mathew Barzal’s right wing and sat defenseman Noah Dobson for the first time this season.
"Noah has been a little bit inconsistent," Trotz said. "We allowed him to try and work through that a little bit."
Reaching 1,000
Defenseman Andy Greene said he didn’t really take time during the contest to soak in the fact that he was playing in his milestone 1,000th regular-season game, but he appreciated the pregame well wishes from teammates and around the NHL.
"The guys in the locker room were unbelievable, and I’m very appreciative of them," Greene said. "A lot of emotion, a lot of support throughout the day from people."
Isles files
Ilya Sorokin is likely to start Tuesday night’s game against the Panthers . . . Ryan Pulock played in his 263rd straight game, passing Hall of Famer Denis Potvin to set the Islanders’ team record for longest ironman streak by a defenseman.
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.
