Takeaways From Day 2 Of Islanders Training Camp
The New York Islanders hit the ice for day two on Friday. Here are Stefen Rosner's key takeaways, injury updates, and standout performances from what was a scrimmage day.
EAST MEADOW, NY — The New York Islanders held a scrimmage between Group Blue & Group White on day two of training camp. Team White came away with the 4-3 win after two 20-minute halves.
Blue Group lines:
Drouin-Horvat-Shabanov
Duclair-Pageau-Holmstrom
Foudy-Ritchie-Gauthier
Veremyev-Romano-Jefferies
Romanov-DeAngelo
George-Boqvist
Aitcheson-Bear
Day-McWard
Sorokin
Hogberg
White Group lines:
Lee-Barzal-Palmieri
Heineman-Cizikas-Tsyplakov
Gatcomb-MacLean-Beckman
Larson-Highmore-Poletin
Pelech-Pulock
Schaefer-Mayfield
Warren-Mitchell
Odelius-Pulkkinen
Rittich
Lennox
Day 2 Notes & Takeaways
Mathew Barzal was by far the biggest standout in the scrimmage. He looked like himself, working his edges and creating time and space for his linemates. He looked better than he did on day one.
The one thing I noticed, even on zone entries, was that he wasn’t automatically peeling off the half wall. He was holding the puck a bit longer coming down the boards.
He did that, put on the skids, before finding Matthew Schaefer cutting in from the blue line for a strong look on goal that rang the post early in the second half.
Barzal didn’t score, but did make a quick backhand-forehand-backhand move in the low slot before rattling the bar — Kyle Palmieri put the puck in.
There was some more physicality during the scrimmage. Kashawn Aitcheson and big-boy Gleb Veremyev went at it during a board battle, with the No. 17 overall pick winning that battle. Kyle MacLean laid a heavy hit along the half wall on Calum Ritchie. Travis Mitchell dumped Alex Jefferies.
Speaking of Veremyev, he did score a nice penalty shot goal.
Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich looked very sharp in their one period of work. Strong positioning for both, two goalies who also never give up if there’s a 1% chance of making a save. Rittich slid over to stone a Bo Horvat one-timer at one point, a strong anticipation of the play, in the first half.
I’ve been impressed by third-round pick Luca Romano. He’s got elite edgwork and just flies up the ice.
Maxim Shabanov’s hands are silky. He did get a penalty shot, missing on the backhand, but the movement was so smooth.
Kyle Palmieri scored the opening goal off a Scott Mayfield point shot. It was a nifty tip from the low slot, as he put the puck over Marcus Hogberg’s blocker. Barzal’s line was dangerous in transition the entire scrimmage.
Patrick Roy’s liked what he’s seen from Anthony Duclair — especially the energy — with the second-year Islander forward scoring from the high slot, blocker side on Tristan Lennox.
Julien Gauthier, who always performs well in training camp, beat Lennox glove side from the slot.
Marc Gatcomb had his back facing Aitcheson at the blue line. But when Aitcheson stepped, Gatcomb quickly shifted his body to create separation, before roofing one over Hogberg’s blocker off the rush.
One thing I’ve noticed about Shabanov, and Maxim Tsyplakov, is that while both are creative, both are understanding the importance of not forcing a player and keeping things simple. Obviously, Tsyplakov learned a lot during his first NHL season but it’s clear that Shabanov is adjusting rahter quickly before even playing in his first NHL game.
Alexander Romanov looks very sturdy out there right now. Been really impressed how he’s come into camp.
Emil Heineman may be as close to a Cal Clutterbuck replacement as they are going to get. He’s got an elite shot and he’s annoying to play against, per Mathew Barzal.
Defenseman Sean Day did leave the ice before the first half of the scrimmage. We’ll see if he’s on the ice Saturday.
Roy said they’ll be working on power play and penalty kill on Saturday. First preseason game is Sunday at UBS Arena gainst the Philadelphia Flyers.
