Duclair and Tsyplakov have swapped places.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- Late in the game against the Utah Hockey Club, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy elected to make a line swap.
With the way Maxim Tsyplakov has been playing and Anthony Duclair's struggles to get to his game since returning from a long-term lower-body injury, Roy swapped th.
Tsyplakov skated the remainder of the game alongside Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri, while Duclair took the remaining shifts alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Casey Cizikas.
That one change remained at Monday's practice ahead of Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators, the first of seven straight on home ice:
According to NaturalStatrick.com, when Horvat and Tsyplakov have played 5-on-5 this season, the Islanders have outscored opponents 8-2, outshooting them 64-61.
“Well, first of all, every time we put Bo with him, they have great games," Roy said. "They seem to play really well together. So, we wanted Anthony [Duclair] to play there at the beginning and last game, in the third period, we made that switch, because they play well together.
"I thought they played really well in that third period. Even Pager and Anthony played really well together with Casey. So I mean, I feel like it's win-win for both, for everyone.”
Roy had said previously that he likes Horvat with Tsyplakov because both thrive playing a give-and-go game.
“I think Bo is a good fit for Tsippy. It was nice for Tsippy to play with Pager, too. They are two very good vets, and they've been helping him a lot," Roy said. "All I would like to see is a little more experience from Tsippy, learning the game and making good decisions under pressure, and he'll be fine.”
Roy wants to see Duclair, Pageau, and Cizikas use their speed to be effective.
“I like to, absolutely [see them use their legs]," Roy said. "I love to see them be successful because they're three smart hockey players. They’re three players that I think could fit really well together, and I think that it's a line that could produce as well offensively.
"So, they could play against top, very good lines, and then they could certainly play well offensively. I think Anthony brings some offense to that line, and I think what Pager and Casey do for Anthony is play very well defensively.”
Both Tsyplakov and Duclair have struggled to record points as of late.
Tsyplakov has no points in his last eight games with 11 shots. After recording points in three straight games after returning from his injury on Dec. 21, Duclair has gone pointless in six straight games with just eight shots.
Horvat is heating up, with points in two of the last three games (three goals).
We'll see if this switch helps the Islanders extend their winning streak to four games.