trim_14028474-D033-4FF6-B654-3A09671C9AFC ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] forward Maxim Tsyplakov was a major question mark heading into this season. Albeit a proven goal scorer in the KHL, but how would his game translate to the NHL? So far, through 28 games, the winger has acted more like a playmaking centerman, with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points, winning 54.5% of his draws. But forget the numbers for a second. Tsyplakov is tremendously confident in his game. He shows a willingness to slow plays down, cut to the net to send passes across the rink on the money, and fill lanes. Whether the results are there or not on a nightly basis, his confidence never wavers, and that's contagious. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMjU0NjU5MDg2NTU5MTkx/usatsi_24937076.jpg] Just look at Saturday night, for example, a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. For the first time this season, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy placed Tsyplakov alongside the slumping Bo Horvat, hoping to get No. 14 going. The move worked out exceptionally well. In the second period, that line got the results, with Pageau scoring to tie the game at 1-1, Tsyplakov scoring a bit later to give New York a 3-2 lead before Horvat snapped his 13-game goal drought to extend Long Island's lead to 4-2 with just 1:05 to play in the middle frame: That line combined for three goals and four assists in that middle frame, and it wasn't a coincidence that Pageau and Horvat woke up a bit with No. 7 by their side. "He's a good playmaker," Roy said. "He's protecting the puck very well. Offensively, he’s doing a lot of good things. I think he’s a good fit for Bo. He's capable of moving the puck and is good in those give-and-go situations. It's the same thing for Pageau. I think that line really clicked well." When Tsyplakov was playing on the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, where he got his start, that was by far the strongest offensive line for New York. Yes, Nelson and Palmieri bring exceptional skill sets, but Tsyplakov's transition abilities help make that line one of the most productive lines in the NHL. Then, when Roy wanted to give Pierre Engvall a chance on the second line, he dropped Tsyplakov to a line with Pageau and Oliver Wahlstrom back on Thursday. Although he only lasted there for 10 or so minutes because Engvall didn't do what Roy asked of him, one could say that Tsyplakov and Pageau were the best players on the ice before the switch. The Tsyplakov effect: "He was great," Horvat said. "I mean, he's a really good player. He makes plays. He's good with the puck. He has really good vision. And he's a good player to play with. You know, he likes to hang on to it and make plays. And obviously, Pager and I fed off that tonight. It was a great first game. We got to keep it rolling." When Tsyplakov has been on the ice this season at 5-on-5 (391:12), the Islanders have scored 21 goals, the second-most amongst the forward group (Horvat 22). Their 213 scoring chances with No. 7 on the ice rank second (Horvat,230). Their 84 high-danger chances and 188 shots with Tsyplakov on the ice rank third. Tsyplakov is a pending restricted free agent, but it seems like he can be a piece on the island for a long time, showing that he can play anywhere in the lineup and still play his game.
