Lane Lambert tweaks forward lines to perfection in Islanders' win
Head coach Lane Lambert of the Islanders looks on during a game against the Florida Panthers at UBS Arena on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Lane Lambert’s first extensive in-game tweaking of his forward lines worked out perfectly for the Islanders in Tuesday night’s 5-2 win over the Sharks at UBS Arena.
Oliver Wahlstrom scored his two goals after being moved to Brock Nelson’s right wing along with captain Anders Lee in the second period. But Lambert also altered two other lines, leaving only his identity fourth line of Casey Cizikas in between Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin intact.
Wahlstrom took Anthony Beauvillier’s spot on Nelson’s line and Beauvillier was switched to Mathew Barzal’s left wing along with Kyle Palmieri. Zach Parise went from Barzal’s line to Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s left wing along with Josh Bailey.
In all, the Islanders generated a season-high 45 shots, including 34 over the final two periods.
“Well, we weren’t going as good as we wanted to be going,” Lambert said. “So we had to just make a little shakeup and see if that led to a spark. Fortunately, it did.”
Wahlstrom and Lee tied for the team-high six shots apiece.
Isles files
Defenseman Noah Dobson and Nelson have each started the season with three-game point streaks . . . Lee now has 11 goals in 15 career games against the Sharks . . . The Sharks have outscored opponents 6-1 in the first period but have been outscored 18-2 in the second and third periods . . . Kieffer Bellows, Nikita Soshnikov and Ross Johnston remained the healthy scratches . . . The Islanders were credited with nine giveaways in the first period and finished the game with 14 . . . Defenseman Sebastian Aho (injured reserve, upper body) again participated fully in the optional morning skate and remained on the ice with the extras. He is day to day as the Islanders carry just six active defensemen . . . The Islanders, after a day off from practice on Wednesday, conclude their season-opening four-game homestand against the Devils on Thursday night.
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.
