Inside Islanders Decision To Go With 11 Forwards, 7 Defensemen vs. Predators

NASHVILLE, TN -- New York Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer has opted to go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen for Tuesday night's game against the Nashville Predators. 

Forward Kyle MacLean will return to the lineup after three straight games, while defenseman Scott Mayfield will return after sitting the previous seven games. 

"I don't want someone sitting too long, and I didn't think any of our D deserved to come out, so that was just kind of where we're at," Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said. "It's always a tough decision on who comes out. I feel a bit for Mac because he only got in three games. We do need some more out of the depth of our lineup, though. I think our fourth line's underlying numbers haven't been good. It's a challenge to...they're not alone on that either. But it's a challenge to those groups, whoever's out there, to tilt the ice when they're out there."

As for the underlying numbers: “If your expected goals for and your expected goals against are not at least within the same zip code, that's a problem.” 

"I thought we could have been a lot better last game," Islanders forward Casey Cizikas said. "Looking back at the plays we made, we just didn't execute. I think our battle could have been higher, from from my perspective, just for for my line alone, and it's something that we're looking to rebound rebound from."

The Hockey News spoke with Mitchell Chaffee as well.

"I felt like I've played good," Chaffee said. "I wanted to come here and try to do the best things that I'm good at and that I can bring to the team. That's winning battles, playing fast, playing physical, and shooting the puck. I think there's times where I feel like I could have shot more pucks or gotten pucks through and stuff just to create more. I think that's a big emphasis too. I thought last game, as a group, we didn't have  our best game. I think we're ready to come tonight and come ready and do all those things."

THN asked DeBoer about what he's seen from Chaffee early on: 

" You can see he scored at the lower levels, college, and the American League. He was off to a great start in the American League," DeBoer said. "He had a great camp, and then, when you see a guy come up like that -- he got in a scrap the first game he was up here -- I think he's trying to show that he wants to be in the lineup every night, and he's making it a tough decision to make."

Mayfield, who has turned down rumors that he wants out, has played only two games this season, with his third coming Tuesday night. 

"I feel good out there so I'm just excited to be in," Mayfield said. "I've stayed ready, and I'm excited to play."

The Islanders battle the Predators at 8 PM ET.