Lane Lambert reworks Isles' power play during practice
New York Islanders forward Hudson Fasching, right, passes the puck against Seattle Kraken defenseman Carson Soucy during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Credit: AP/Stephen Brashear
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Lane Lambert rearranged the Islanders’ power-play units during Monday’s practice at Rogers Arena. But unless the execution improves, specifically entries into the offensive zone but also getting pucks to the net, the personnel shuffling might not matter on Tuesday night against the Canucks.
“It starts with zone entries,” the coach said. “Everything feeds off of that. When our power play is having success, we’re entering the zone. When we struggle a little bit, we have some problems with that.”
The Islanders (21-15-2) opened a four-game western swing with a lethargic 4-1 loss to the Kraken on Sunday night. They went 0-for-2 with one shot on the power play, leaving them 1-for-30 in their last 10 games.
So on Monday, defenseman Sebastian Aho rotated with Ryan Pulock and Hudson Fasching was added to the mix instead of Aatu Raty.
Lambert broke up his usual top unit of Noah Dobson quarterbacking Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee. Instead, Aho or Pulock worked with Josh Bailey, Pageau, Barzal and Zach Parise as the net-front presence while Dobson’s new unit included Fasching in the bumper spot in between the circles with Anthony Beauvillier, Nelson and Lee at the net.
“We had to do something,” Barzal said. “And the coaches chose to do that. It’s a little bit of a different look. Maybe throw a team off. Having a different look, I think that’s needed sometimes.”
Lambert’s options for switching his personnel are limited with right wings Kyle Palmieri and Oliver Wahlstrom — both of whom have played on the power play — on injured reserve.
Aho has played plenty on the power play with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport but has yet to do so regularly in the NHL. Lambert would not detail whether he would use Aho or Pulock, who has only three power-play assists and no goals on the man advantage despite having one of the team’s hardest shots.
“I’m pretty good at moving the puck up there and getting shots through,” Aho said. “Play the puck fast, give it to my guys and try to set them up for one-timers. We feel like we need to just get the puck to the net and get a couple of crappy goals to get us going a little bit.”
Notes & quotes: Semyon Varlamov, who said he had been dealing with a groin injury, was activated off injured reserve and Cory Schneider was returned to Bridgeport. Varlamov missed six games after exiting a 5-2 win over Vegas on Dec. 17 in the third period. “I just knew, in that moment, I couldn’t finish the game,” Varlamov said. “I’m feeling good. Nothing bothers me now. I’m 100%.” . . . Cal Clutterbuck (right hand) participated fully in Monday’s practice, skating on Raty’s right wing with Matt Martin. “We’re hopeful,” Lambert said when asked if Clutterbuck will be in the lineup Tuesday after missing seven games . . . Palmieri (upper body) skated after the Islanders’ practice. He will miss his eighth 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.
