The expectation is that Tsyplakov and DeAngelo will play against Carolina.
The New York Islanders are winning hockey games. After their 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night, they've now won three straight games and six of their last eight.
Usually, the rule of thumb when a team is rolling is to not touch anything, but Islanders head coach Patrick Roy has a few decisions to make ahead of their Saturday night showdown against a new-look Carolina Hurricanes team:
Forward Maxim Tsyplakov is eligible to return to the lineup after a three-game extension, while Tony DeAngelo is eligible to play after clearing waivers.
Who comes out for Tsyplakov?
When I asked Roy about what he was planning on doing with No. 7 following Friday's morning skate, he had this to say.
"I don't have to answer the question today. We'll see. The name of the game is winning hockey games, and that's the job of our guys, to make those decisions difficult for us,” Roy said. “And right now, the 12 players that were in the lineup last game deserve to play tonight, and if we win, then we'll have to make decisions tomorrow.”
Well, the Islanders did win again, and now Roy has a decision to make.
The Islanders are better with Tsyplakov in the lineup…no question.
Despite being a hitting and forechecking machine through his first four NHL games, Marc Gatcomb was a place-holder and did his job.
If the Islanders do place Noah Dobson on LTIR, then Gatcomb is safe, roster-wise, and hasn’t really given Roy a reason to come out.
Second-year NHLer Kyle MacLean has struggled to bring the same game we saw last season. But he’s picked up his game lately.
So has Pierre Engvall, who is playing more physical as of late and using his speed to be effective?
While third-line winger Casey Cizikas may have regressed, the penalty kill has been playing much better, so he isn’t likely to come out.
Gatcomb and Engvall seem like the likely options.
Now, for the defense, the answer seems more obvious: Tony DeAngelo was brought in as an upgrade over Dennis Cholowski.
DeAngelo will be playing on the top power play and is a right-side defenseman, which is a better fit in the lineup.
Projected Islanders lineup:
Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Anthony Duclair -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Maxim Tsyplakov -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall -- Kyle MacLean -- Casey Cizikas
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov -- Tony DeAngelo
Isaiah George -- Scott Mayfield
Marcus Hogberg
Ilya Sorokin