Islanders Top Six In A Lull; Time To Shuffle Lines Again?

Changing the lineup yet again seems like the only option for Patrick Roy amidst the Islanders' goal-scoring slump.

The New York Islanders offense was showing life after head coach Patrick Roy made changes following the loss of Mathew Barzal. 

The top line of Anders Lee, Bo Horvat, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau was leading the way alongside the line of Maxim Tsyplakov, Brock Nelson, and Kyle Palmieri.

However, those six players have struggled recently. As a team, they have scored no goals over their last three games and have been outscored 3-0.

On their five-game road trip, where they went 1-2-2, the Islanders averaged 2.4 goals per game and were held to two goals or under in the final three games (0-2-1). 

"Scoring a goal could change the rhythm of the game," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "In Calgary, here [Detroit], in St Louis, or in all the games where we lost by one goal. I guess that could have made a difference.”

Lee (three goals, one assist) and Palmieri (one goal, three assists) have been solid with points each in five games, but Nelson has just one goal over his last five, with Horvat and Tsyplakov having zero. 

The Islanders' third line of Pierre Engvall, Casey Cizikas, and Simon Holmstrom has been the team's most consistent line on this road trip. Engvall's three goals, tied with Lee's for the team lead after the five-game trip, have been the team's most consistent. 

The only thing left for Patrick Roy to do, since he's not the one that makes trades, is to alter the lineup ahead of their Saturday showdown with the St. Louis Blues.

What should the lines be?

The Islanders need to get Horvat and Nelson going offensively, so would it be crazy to place them on the same line?

Nelson did play some wing last season, which may allow him to get more shots off, especially off the rush. Engvall is crashing the net at will, playing the best hockey we've seen from him since coming to the Islanders. 

The Islander should take advantage of his strong play and use him to kickstart the other two. 

Tsyplakov is in the first rut of his young NHL career and may benefit from being dropped in the lineup. The fourth line has struggled, and a chance seems needed there. 

Could we see a lineup like this face the Blues?

Nelson-Horvat-Engvall

Lee-Pageau-Palmieri

Tsyplakov-Cizikas-Holmstrom

Martin-MacLean-Fasching

Or what about swapping the top-line wingers with the second-line wingers?

Tsyplakov-Horvat-Palmieri

Lee-Nelson-Pageau

Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom

Martin-MacLean-Fasching

Well, what about taking two wingers who have shown tremendous chemistry lately and plopping them alongside Horvat while changing up the bottom six a bit?

Engvall-Horvat-Holmstrom

Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri

Lee-Pageau-MacLean

Martin-Cizikas-Fasching

Yes, all that we are doing here is rearranging configurations to see if they can provide a spark.

This is the roster that Roy has, and unless Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is planning on recalling players like the red-hot Frederik Karlstrom or Brian Pinho, it's these 12 -- 13 if Wahlstrom remains in -- to get the job done. 

It won't be a shock if Roy runs the same lineup back because the chances are there, but it's clear that the once-strong lines have lost their magic touch. 

When everyone returns from injury, we could see a lineup like this:

Lee-Horvat-Barzal

Duclair-Nelson-Palmieri

Tsyplakov-Pageau-MacLean

Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom

The problem is that Anthony Duclair and Barzal aren't skating yet, so who knows when they will have a healthy, deep lineup like this?