Islanders Patrick Roy & His Musical Chairs Shuffling Approach To Find Right Line Combos
The Islanders have scored just one goal over their last eight periods.
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THE SKINNY & ISLANDERS NEWS
Before we get to the Islanders lineup game of musical chairs, check out more Islanders news links & “The Skinny” from Eric Hornick (Brendan Burke and Butch Goring’s MSG Networks statistician). The site is updated after each game with incredible statistics and facts.
Hornick Gems: It is the first time in their history that they have been shut out four times in the first ten games.
Check out much more at Hornick’s The Skinny: Columbus 2, Isles 0
Islanders Brock Nelson, Anders Lee & Bo Horvat Remember Johnny Gaudreau - THN
Islanders Goalie Ilya Sorokin Breaks Another Career Record As Hot Start Continues - THN
Islanders Alexander Romanov Is Unlikely To Play vs. Blue Jackets - THN
Islanders & Their Battle With Mental Toughness: 'We Have To Find A Way To Calm Down The Play - THN
Islanders Head Coach Patrick Roy Changes Plan, Decides To Overload Top Power Play Unit - THN
Islanders Shut Out For Fourth Time In 10 Games, Fall 2-0 To Blue Jackets For Third Straight Regulation Loss
For the fourth time in 10 games, the New York Islanders were shut out, falling 2-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.
The lone goal on a goalie came at 5:43 of the third period when Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson's shot from the boards bounced off Ryan Pulock and in.
Elvis Merzlikins recorded his first shutout of the season, stopping all 28 that came his way to help Columbus win consecutive games for the first time this year.
Varlamov stopped 24 of 25.
The Islanders are now 3-5-2 and have lost three straight games.
Read more at The Hockey News.
Patrick Roy & His Abundance Of Line Shuffling Amidst Scoring Slump
After the Islanders showcased nine different line combinations in their 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, Patrick Roy shared what his thought process was.
“They work so hard, so they deserve me to try things. It'd be too easy for me to say [stick with it] when you see your guys working the way they were,” Roy said. “You want to pull the goalie early, you want to show them that you're there for them, and you want to help them out, and that's all I want to do. It's nothing personal. It's about trying to find a way to get [the offense] going.
“We’re going to continue to do this. We're a tight group, and we're going to continue to be, and we're going to find a way to win those games.”
Roy was true to his word, separating Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal to start their Wednesday game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
But after a scoreless first period, Roy hit the music, and the musical chairs began again.
The moves didn’t work, as seven different trios hit the ice in a 2-0 shutout loss, the team's fourth shutout loss in 10 games this season.
“I’m just looking for a goal,” Roy said. “I thought the first was so, so. And then I thought, in the second, we started to have some legs, and we start fore-checking, and some guys weren't giving me more. I thought it was a good moment to press and try to find a way to get that goal and take the lead. And we had our chances.”
Roy is in a tough spot.
After keeping his lines together, more or less, through the first five games, which included a 1-1-1 stretch on the road, there was a reason for optimism because the chances were there.
Then, when Anthony Duclair went down, he went with Simon Holmstrom on the top line for four games before deciding to shake things up as the chances didn’t equal goals.
Since the numerous line changes, the results have been the same.
So, at this point, what else can be done to get the offense going?
Oliver Wahlstrom, whose best game of the season came in the 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils, has watched the last two and doesn’t seem to be a high consideration for a spot despite his offensive potential, which has yet to come to the forefront.
Pierre Engvall, who has the skills to be in this lineup on a nightly basis, was scratched on Wednesday, and it’s clear that Roy needs to see more from him when he’s in the lineup.
What else can Roy do?
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