Tsyplakov had no points in 10 games before his three-game suspension.

ELMONT, NY -- It seemed, without a doubt, that once New York Islanders rookie Maxim Tsyplakov's three-game suspension came to a close, he'd be back in the lineup.

However, in Tsyplakov's absence from the lineup, the Islanders were winning hockey games, going 3-0-0 ahead of Saturday night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Head coach Patrick Roy said on Friday morning, before the Islanders' 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers, that his 12 forwards all deserved to play and that if they won, there'd be a tough decision on Saturday night, with Tsyplakov eligible to return.

Roy decided to keep Tsyplakov in the press box. 

"The forwards will be the same as the last game," Roy said pregame. "It's hard when you win three in a row to make some changes. So, I mean, they all deserve to play, and Max understands that as well. So we're gonna go with the same forwards."

Fortunately for the Islanders, they came from down 2-0 to win 3-2 in overtime, their fourth straight win.

So, does that mean Tsyplakov is to sit again on Tuesday night when the Islanders conclude their seven-game homestand against the Colorado Avalanche?

It certainly sounds that way. 

"I know Tsyplakov wants to play and everything, but hey, we're winning games," Roy said postgame. 

It's hard to argue with Roy. As a rule of thumb, when you are winning, you change nothing. While what Tsyplakov does well doesn't always show up on the scoresheet, he was pointless in 10 straight games before his suspension. 

However, it's fair to think that Tsyplakov only helps this lineup despite the winning results.

Stick taps are in order for the way the bottom-six forwards have played lately. 

The fourth line of Pierre Engvall, Kyle MacLean, and Marc Gatcomb has been stellar on the forecheck, with Gatcomb impressing during his first handful of NHL games.

The third line of Casey Cizikas, Jean Gabriel Pageau, and Simon Holmstrom has been impeccable defensively. All three have played a huge role in the team's penalty-kill turnaround, which has been 16 of 18 since Jan. 1. 

"I love the energy. I mean, Casey was skating so well, and Pageau is so smart, and Simon made a pretty good move in that second period to create that scoring chance," Roy said. "All three of them are playing on the penalty kill.  I'm not nervous when they're going out there. I know they're gonna do the job. Doesn't matter which line they play against. If they play the top line on the other team, I know they will do the work, and I could trust them.

"That means a lot and even our fourth line. I mean, hey, their job is to make decisions difficult for us, and that's exactly what they're doing."

At some point, Tsyplakov will make his way into the lineup. 

Their 4-0-0 record with him out of the lineup has nothing to do with him and his performance. 

If the Islanders do keep winning, Tsyplakov will have to wait for his opportunity. Once he does get back in, he will have to be at his best.

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