Why Roy Is Going With Defenseman Boqvist As A Forward Again vs. Columbus

EAST MEADOW, NY -- With forward Hudson Fasching sick, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy has elected to go with defenseman Adam Boqvist in his place on the club's third line. 

With Matt Martin healthy and rostered, why didn't Roy go with the grizzled veteran?

The answer: The power play. 

"Fasching is sick. He will not play. So we're gonna have Boqvist playing as a forward, and he will play on the power play," Roy said. "So, sometimes you have to adjust and adapt, and we feel like it's a good situation for us to go with him as a forward."

Why is Boqvist playing on the third line rather than the fourth?

"I can't change the line of McLean. They're playing so well," Roy said. "I mean, they've been scoring. They scored against the Panthers, then scored again last game, two goals. I like the way they're playing. "I don't want to flip the lines and make some changes because of it. I rather go with what we have and then keep going that way."

Boqvist has played forward once before, centering the fourth line when they fell 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks in their second game after the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. 

Roy explained what Boqvist did before that game. 

"First of all, it was funny because he wanted to see some clips. And so I love that the players care, and they want to do well," Roy said. "It doesn't matter. And I think, going in the stretch, whatever you can do to help the team...I think any defenseman, if we were to ask them to play forward, they always say yes. I think these guys just want to try to make the playoffs. I mean, that's all they want."

Puck drop between the Islanders and Blue Jackets is tonight at 7:30 PM ET.