Islanders Have Tight Runway To Figure Out Forward Lines
Patrick Roy continues to tweak the New York Islanders’ line combinations after the trade deadline as he searches for the best fit for Brayden Schenn and a spark for the playoff push.
ELMONT, NY — With the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline in the rear-view mirror, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy has his roster.
First-year general manager Mathieu Darche brought in forward Ondrej Palat and defenseman Carson Soucy to stabilize the lineup before adding veteran center Brayden Schenn to bolster the playoff-hopeful group.
Since acquiring Schenn, the Islanders are 2-1-0. Each game has featured different line combinations, even with the same roster.
The Islanders entered their eventual 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal on separate lines. Horvat centered Emil Heineman and Calum Ritchie, while Barzal and Palat flanked Schenn.
“I want to know who is going to be a good fit for [Schenn],” Roy said on why he was changing up his top six. “Don’t forget, the standard here is about winning hockey games. So we are going to do whatever it takes. I’m excited to see him play with Palat and Barzy, and I’m excited to see Ritchie with Heineman.”
Also, Max Shabanov, who was playing in his second straight game since Jan. 31, started on the fourth line alongside Casey Cizikas and Marc Gatcomb.
A lack of execution left the Islanders down 3-0 early in the second, prompting Roy to make changes.
Roy put Barzal back with Horvat and Heineman. He moved Shabanov to the second line with Schenn and Ritchie, and placed Palat with Cizikas and Gatcomb.
On Horvat and Barzal’s first shift back together, Heineman scored for the Islanders, his first of two goals Friday:
“Sometimes, it’s just a gut feeling,” Roy said postgame. “We needed to generate more. And I just thought that it was time to put Bo and Barzy back together. I said to them when I met them yesterday, I’m going to put them back together at different moments in the game. Sometimes I’m going to put it longer, sometimes I’m going to make it shorter, end of periods, end of games, as we did. But I mean tonight, I mean I felt like down three goals, I thought we had to do something and find a spark. I mean, just create that little spark that could make a difference. Actually, it did happen. We score right away. It made it a 3-1 game. And we had other chances after that, but unfortunately, we came up short.”
I asked Roy about the Shabanov-Palat swap.
“I was looking more for skills on that line. That’s why I did it,” Roy said. “There’s also been moments this season where Shabby and Cal have been playing really well together. So I thought it was maybe a good idea to give it a try. See how it goes. And Ondrej played with Casey and Gats. I mean, that’s their game. I mean, plug their D, forecheck, throw pucks at the net, and then things could happen.”
Roy’s in-game changes did spark the group.
Ultimately, they couldn’t get completely out of the hole. In the eight games since the Olympic Break, the Islanders have trailed by two or more goals six times, going 4-2-0.
When I asked Islanders captain Anders Lee about the slow start against LA, he said something that was interesting.
“Our starts have been an issue. I think tonight we just, too many times, we’re trying to dance through their defense. You’ve got to build that part into your game early in the game. At this time of year, we can’t afford the turnovers that we’ve had, and they end up in the back of our net. And that can’t happen right now. It put us in a really tough spot tonight.”
Early decisions and slow-starting lines contribute to deficits. Running four lines is tough when some aren’t effective.
But Roy’s mid-game moves were logical.