After having off Sunday following back-to-back losses to New Jersey (5-4 OT) and Buffalo (3-1), the New York Islanders were back on the practice ice Monday morning.
After having off Sunday following back-to-back losses to New Jersey (5-4 OT) and Buffalo (3-1), the New York Islanders were back on the practice ice Monday morning.
Defenseman Scott Mayfield, who rejoined the Islanders this past Friday after injuring his ankle in the season opener but did not make the trip to Buffalo, missed practice as Sebastian Aho stayed in his spot with Samuel Bolduc manning the left.
"He's trying. Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said regarding Mayfield skating on his own. There's no further update as he remains day-to-day.
Lambert elected to make lineup changes against Buffalo, penciling in Oliver Wahlstrom on the top line and Julien Gauthier on the third, sitting Simon Holmstrom and Hudson Fasching.
At Monday's practice, Lambert again made changes, moving Anders Lee back to the top line, which moved Mathew Barzal back to the right-wing position after starting on the left (H/t Andrew Gross, Ethan Sears, Joe Pantorno, and Andrew Fantuccio),
"Production out of him and net presence," Lambert shared as the reasoning for Lee's movement top the top line. "Leesy in a straight line, going right to the net should be good."
Holmstrom came back in as he skated on Jean-Gabriel Pageau's left while Wahlstrom skated on the right.
It's an interesting move, no doubt, as there may be some caution to use Pageau's line as the shutdown forward line against an ultra-talented, high-octane offense like the Colorado Avalanche, which the Islanders host Tuesday night.
Now, that being said, Holmstrom is a strong defensive player and that area of his game as the reason why he stuck in the Islanders lineup for 50 games last season.
Wahlstrom, who has struggled to get up to pace after his ACL injury, may be the concern as his game is on the offensive side of the puck.
Lambert was asked about Wahlstrom's defensive play and if he needs to change his game playing on such a defensive line.
"I want his game defensively sound no matter what line he's on," Lambert said. "it doesn't have to change. He has to play the same way. He has to be responsible defensively, just like everybody else."
Puck drop is slated for 8 PM ET at UBS Arena.