On the onset of coaching camp, the Islanders spoke of being extra aggressive underneath new coach Lane Lambert. Now, 5 video games into the preseason, there's a higher thought of what precisely that entails.
The Islanders’ defensemen are getting up on the push extra typically and extra concerned within the play offensively. They're making use of stress in all three zones. They've given up some odd-man rushes … and gotten a few of their very own in return.
It's not — and is unlikely to ever be — chance-for-chance hockey. However it's definitely a extra open sport than the Islanders performed underneath Barry Trotz for the previous 4 seasons.
“I believe it was evident, particularly within the third interval, the place we saved plenty of pucks alive within the offensive zone,” Lambert mentioned following a 5-2 victory Thursday over the Devils, wherein defensemen accounted for a objective (Noah Dobson) and two major assists (Ryan Pulock and Paul LaDue). “In an effort to create a bit bit extra, our protection must get energetic for certain.”
The Islanders appeared very a lot within the midst of a studying curve throughout their first two preseason video games, each of them lopsided losses. Issues have appeared smoother of late, nevertheless, with three straight wins, the one Thursday being probably the most emphatic.
After which there was Islanders captain Anders Lee on Thursday morning, saying one thing that by no means would have been mentioned a yr in the past.
“While you’re generally backing up or taking part in it protected,” he mentioned, “you’re not likely gonna create on the opposite finish of it.”
How a lot of that finally ends up being rhetoric and refined change versus wholesale reinvention will change into extra clear as soon as the season begins, and more than likely it should find yourself someplace within the center. It's, nevertheless, greater than may need been anticipated when Lambert — Trotz’s high assistant coach at three stops earlier than he was elevated this spring — was initially employed.
“I believe they’re embracing it they usually’re making an attempt to embrace it,” Lambert mentioned. “It’s a bit little bit of a unique mindset and a slight change in mentality that's taking a while. However I just like the steps they’re taking in that.”
Cal Clutterbuck, Scott Mayfield and Oliver Wahlstrom remained unavailable for undisclosed causes. Wahlstrom skated on his personal on Thursday morning.
Aatu Räty and Simon Holmstrom had been recalled for the sport, presumably as a result of others being unavailable, after being assigned to AHL Bridgeport on Wednesday. Räty limped off after taking an Alexander Romanov shot off his proper leg within the second interval, however rapidly returned to the sport and later scored on a tough wrist shot from the slot at 9:23 of the third.
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