Michael Dal Colle on Islanders' second line, gets another chance to show his worth
Islanders left wing Michael Dal Colle skates in a scrimmage game during Training Camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Michael Dal Colle remained in the lineup for a third straight game when the Islanders played the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. He was on Brock Nelson’s second line with Jordan Eberle for the second game in a row.
Anthony Beauvillier missed his sixth straight game as Nelson’s usual left wing as he remained on injured reserve with a lower-body issue. Monday was Dal Colle’s fourth game overall this season.
"He was on the puck, he was skating," coach Barry Trotz said after Dal Colle notched two assists in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum for his first career multi-point game. "He was winning his puck battles. He was just engaged and not playing a light game. Michael has the ability to get on top of people because of his skating. He can separate people and he’s got enough skill that he can get pucks to his teammates or get available for his teammates.
"When Michael’s playing well, he’s not settling for average," Trotz said. "That’s where I’m trying to push Michael, to consistently be that guy that can have an effect on the ice. Let’s make sure we get some traction and see if we can make it into a season or a big grouping of games."
Dal Colle was the fifth overall pick in 2014, but last season was his first full one in the NHL. He had four goals and six assists while playing in 53 of the Islanders’ 68 games.
Isles files
Goalie Cory Schneider dressed as Semyon Varlamov’s backup, making Ilya Sorokin a healthy scratch . . . Defenseman Sebastian Aho and Ross Johnston remained extras . . . The Islanders are supposed to play in Buffalo on Monday and Tuesday, but the Sabres, with nine players on the NHL’s COVID protocol list, had two more games postponed on Thursday and Saturday against the Capitals.
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.
