Why Patrick Roy Is Taking Maxim Tsyplakov Out Of The Islanders' Lineup Against Nashville

EAST MEADOW, NY -- After snapping their four-game skid with a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy has opted to make a personnel change.

Maxim Tsyplakov, who played 10:38 minutes in the win, will be coming out of the lineup.  Pierre Engvall, who served as a healthy scratch, will draw back in.

The biggest reason for this move was Hudson Fasching's play. In his return to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 5, Fasching played well, starting on the fourth line before being promoted to the third line. 

Fasching's promotion meant the demotion of Tsyplakov to the fourth line. Outside of some strong play early on Thursday, the first-year NHLer struggled to play his game, something that was an issue before the 4 Nations break and one that continued since the league returned to play.

"It's nothing that I don't like about Tsyplakov," Roy said following Friday's optional skate in which Tsyplakov took part in. "I want him to go back to what he was doing so well, the compete level around the net and stuff like that."

Tsyplakov's point total might be discouraging but his game is not one that has to appear on the scoreboard. He's such a strong player--a big body--that, along with his hockey IQ, can open up the ice for his teammates. 

That's the game Roy needs Tsyplakov to rediscover.

For Engvall, he's actually been playing much better in the fourth-line role. While he'll never be the physical presence that this fourth line was known for, he's effective when he's skating north with the puck, helping with breakouts and chasing down loose pucks.

Engvall plays a valuable role, when he plays that role consistently and I think it's fair to say that he's done that lately. 

Other news ahead of Saturday's game is that Scott Mayfield will be a healthy scratch for a third straight game, with Roy electing to run the same defense out there again.

Romanov-DeAngelo

Pelech-Dobson

Boqvist-Pulock

Ilya Sorokin is expected to make his seventh straight start and is coming off an impressive performance, stopping 38 of 39.

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