Islanders Beat Leafs EAST MEADOW, NY -- With the return of Casey Cizikas [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/casey-cizikas-new-york-islanders-kyle-maclean], the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/bo-horvat-new-york-islanders-mathew-barzal-vancouver-canucks-seattle-kraken] went the expected route, returning Kyle MacLean [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-kyle-maclean-first-nhl-goal-toronto-maple-leafs] to Bridgeport. Although Maclean's first NHL stint lasted just six games, he proved to be a solid bottom-six fill-in that Patrick Roy and his staff can trust going forward. In six games, the 24-year-old centerman scored just one goal on three shots, with a block, 13 hits, and two takeaways, averaging 8:11 minutes per game. But MacLean's one of those players whose skills don't necessarily appear on the scoresheet. He's one of those players whose job is to keep the line moving, whether that means getting pucks deep and forechecking, using his active stick to slow down the opposition's transition game, and garnering strong positioning in the neutral and defensive zone. When MacLean was on the ice at 5-on-5 (49:01), the Islanders scored a goal and didn't allow any, owning the second-lowest Expected Goals Against amongst forwards who have played in at least three of the last six games (1.16) per NaturalStatrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=5v5&stdoi=oi&rate=n&v=p&playerid=8481237]. It was just a stable first NHL stint, which the Islanders needed. "He's done a solid job [filling the Cizikas role]," Cal Clutterbuck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/john-tavares-new-york-islanders-fight-3-2-maple-leafs] said. "He's a really good, really good player. I think the lesson for a lot of young kids out there is if you're not going to be the Mat Barzals of the world, you want to play the game properly and hard, and you'll find a place for sure." Last year, the Islanders called up forward prospects Aatu Räty, William Dufour, Arnaud Durandeau, and Simon Holmstrom [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/simon-holmstrom-new-york-islanders-shorthanded-goals-penalty-kill-pageau-lambert], along with Hudson Fasching [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/hudson-fasching-new-york-islanders-calgary-flames-seattle-kraken]. Holmstrom and Fasching stuck at the NHL level because of their trustworthy defensive games. For a team whose goal is to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is no time for players to get acclimated to the NHL upon being recalled. The positive for MacLean is that he was asked to step in, and it took him little to no time to adjust his game to NHL speed. There were very few times he got caught out of position. His passing was crisp. He filled lanes correctly, and as mentioned above, he just kept the line moving. Here's what his head coach Patrick Roy had to say: "I think he has a future with us. No doubt in my mind. I mean, it'll be up to the organization to decide when he's ready or not. But I think he does have a future with our team," Roy said. "He played really well. I felt like he was very reliable. I mean, he played really well defensively. I guess there's no better feeling leaving with a goal in your back pocket. I think it brings a lot of confidence to your game, and I'm sure he's going to Bridgeport with other good things in his mind." Given MacLean's ability to play the wing as well as center, he likely remains the No. 1 call-up if the Islanders suffer an injury to their bottom six, even with winger Julien Gauthier [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/julien-gauthier-new-york-islanders-waivers] waiting in the minors. RELATED STORIES
