EXCLUSIVE: Islanders Wahlstrom on Shootout Winner, Lee Talks No. 26

EAST MEADOW, NY -- With the New York Islanders on life support, staring down what could have been an eighth straight loss after another blown third-period lead, Oliver Wahlstrom came through.

His overtime dagger in the fifth round of the shootout on Saturday night against the Calgary Flames snapped a seven-game slide as everyone on the bench breathed a sigh of relief. 

"Markstrom's a pretty big goalie," Wahlstrom told The Hockey News. "He plays in the paint, so we studied. That's my game, my shot, and seeing little holes, so it was a good shot."

That goal was one of, if not, the biggest goals the Islanders have tallied this season, given the circumstances, and you could see the relief on Wahlstrom and his teammates' faces once the puck went in. 

"Yeah, it's good man. It's just another goal," Wahlstrom said. "I mean, it's a big two points. We're all so happy to get away with four points on that trip.

"We were battling some bad luck, so for us to get two points there was huge."

On the surface, Wahlstrom didn't have his best game during regulation, earning a -4 in the plus/- department. 

The plus/- stat is one of the worst statistics to use when comparing players, given the outside factors that affect it.

"I mean, three of those were just, like, step on the ice and turn. I'd come down the ice, and they pass back door, and it goes in," Wahlstrom said. "So, I mean, it's part of the game."

Wahlstrom did take accountability for the Flames' 4-4 equalizer, as he lost a board battle against Elias Lindholm along the right half-wall. 

"I could have won the battle, but he just went off and passed to the back door again and scored," Wahlstrom said. "So I mean, it's part of the game, and you can't really get too caught up in [the minus four] because everyone's been in that situation."

THN asked Wahlstrom's linemate and known board battler Anders Lee about that specific play for some insight. 

"You just want to let him go up top. Keep him on the outside," Lee said. "That's all you can do. They get one to go from there...that's just sometimes the way it goes. But keep them to the outside. Force them up top. It's just being predictable for the guys around you, allowing that to take place. That kind of gives the next guy that, 'alright, it's gonna go up top.'

Lee explained how board battles are something where reps are needed to feel comfortable, like in anything. 

"It's all feel. You had a guy on your back, on your ribs. Sometimes they take a step away, and you got your back to him, so it's just a loud nuance," Lee said. "It's just reps. You start to feel good in the corners, and you start to feel really good."

When Wahlstrom injured his ACL last season, one of the first people THN spoke to about the recovery and the road ahead was Lee, who had torn his ACL back in 2021-22. 

It's been a tough road back for Wahlstrom, and it likely hasn't helped that he's been in and out of the Islanders lineup this season, playing in 11 of 17 games with one goal and one assist.  

The 23-year-old, who signed his one-year qualifying offer this summer with no longer-term deal on the table, has been able to get in more of a rhythm, having played the last five games. 

Wahlstrom technically has three goals over his last four games, with the two shootout winners and one snipe against Minnesota Wild's netmidner Marc-Andre Fleury. 

The Islanders captain is proud of the work Wahlstrom has put in to recover and just as proud to see him come through in such a huge moment for the group. 

"That's a big goal for our team. I mean, puck on your stick with an opportunity like that, it's not always easy, but he's done it a couple of times now. Had a big one in Seattle two days before, so he's got that knack for being able to have the game on a stick a little bit and put it in," Lee said. "I mean, those were two huge shots for us and one that got us point one that kept us alive to get one, so no surprise from him. He's got a wonderful shot and a wonderful demeanor.

"It's a hard road for anyone that goes through [ACL rehab], but for him, it's just taken all his focus and effort, and it's great to see when the fruits bear."

Lee's played around 42 minutes with Wahlstrom this season and described what he's seen from the young forward, who has focused on being more of a power forward rather than just a pure sniper.

"I think he's just continuing to grow. I think the biggest thing for us is being strong on pucks, working the corners, and getting the puck to the net," Lee said. "And when we're doing that, we're having success. So I think he's a big part of that.

"He's got...I kind of call it monkey strength, a little bit, where it's just like he's a strong guy, and he doesn't necessarily have a big build if that makes any sense. He's got that man strength, and so when he uses that in the corners and digs out pucks and lets go of that shot, it's really effective."

Last season, on Nov. 26, Wahlstrom and then-Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo went dancing at UBS Arena. 

It all began after Alexander Romanov stepped up and hit Kevin Hayes inside the Islanders blue line. It didn't seem like much, but the Flyers decided to go after Romanov, leading to a scrum.

While Wahlstrom watched the scrum from a few feet away, DeAngelo wanted to dance with No. 26. 

Unfortunately for DeAngelo, he had no say in the upcoming moves, as, per video evidence, he bit off more than he could chew.

THN asked Wahlstrom about that incident after Wednesday's morning skate and why the fight between the two happened. 

"I was just making sure Romi was okay," Wahlstrom said. "And then all of a sudden, a glove flew in front of me, and I got jumped.

"So, I had to fight, you know."

Wahlstrom stands at six-foot-two and weighs 204 pounds. DeAngelo stands at five-foot-11, weighing 180 pounds. 

The Islanders youngster said that he hadn't seen the replay much but that he certainly enjoyed the game and that moment. 

"I haven't seen it much. But I mean, yeah, it was good. It was a fun game," Wahlstrom remembered. "Obviously, I'm not expecting to fight, but it just happened. So it was fun for sure."

Sure looked like it, from Wahlstrom's perspective.