It's no secret what it could imply to the Islanders if Oliver Wahlstrom may take the following step.
A primary-round choose again in 2018, Wahlstrom possesses a deadly shot, actual talent to his recreation and a discernible swagger on the ice when he has it going. The expertise has by no means been the query, even when he scored simply 3 times within the second half of final season. And proper now, after equaling that quantity via his first two video games of this season, he appears like somebody who could possibly be placing it collectively.
“I suppose he's taking part in free,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert mentioned following Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Sharks, through which Wahlstrom scored the go-ahead purpose, then added one other within the third interval. “I feel that anytime you’re a man who's a shooter or a scorer, for those who do the main points and the little issues within the recreation, it results in that.”
As a lot because it’s tempting to place the concentrate on Wahlstrom’s scoring. it’s the little particulars that held him again final yr. And it’s no small matter that Lambert is noticing the change this time round.
It wasn’t what Wahlstrom did with the puck that will set former coach Barry Trotz off. It was his positioning, his play within the defensive zone and the occasional carelessness he’d present with the puck that acquired him within the doghouse.
By means of two video games (Wahlstrom missed the opener with an upper-body damage) there was none of that.
“It was good studying for me final yr,” Wahlstrom mentioned. “I needed to simply keep on with my recreation, preserve issues easy. Clearly, I used to be too exhausting on myself final yr, and I simply lean on lots of the fellows within the room.”
Deflecting credit score to his teammates was one thing Wahlstrom did once more when requested in regards to the objectives.
“Clearly, it’s good to be on the board, however it’s actually, these two objectives, you noticed my linemates the best way they labored. I simply wanted to place myself in spots to get the puck. My first purpose was all [Anders Lee] and [Brock Nelson], they set it up. It opened up my recreation.”
Each objectives got here after Lambert moved Wahlstrom into the highest six in the course of the second interval, placing him on a line with Lee and Nelson. The primary got here off a faceoff on what appeared like a set play, the second on a slap shot with Noah Dobson offering the help.
However once more, it's in regards to the little issues.
“He’s labored very exhausting over the summer season,” Lambert mentioned. “Give him credit score — not all people does work exhausting over the summer season. He’s labored exhausting over the summer season to enhance these areas in his recreation. Wall play: puck comes across the wall, must get out, he’s doing it.”
If he retains doing it, the rewards will preserve coming.
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