Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders SEATTLE -- Early in the New York Islanders 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canuck, Maxim Tsyplakov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/maxim-tsyplakov-new-york-islanders-nhl-assists-kyle-palmieri-brock-nelson-assists-per-60] made a mistake inside the offensive zone. He tried to do too much, eventually turning the puck over. Once Tsyplakov made his way back to the bench after the next play was whistled down for a hand pass, head coach Patrick Roy made his way over to the rookie. While we couldn't possibly know Roy's exact words to Tsyplakov, the bench boss was clearly trying to get a message across to the 26-year-old. After Friday's skate, we got an answer. "He wanted me to control the puck more and not miss puck," Tsyplakov told The Hockey News. "It was a big game with a lot of hits and a lot of battles. It was a good team win." Following that conversation with Roy, Tsyplakov played a very strong game. Although he didn't register a shot on goal or any points in his 16:47 minutes, Tsyplakov played smart hockey, getting pucks deep, getting in on the forecheck, blocking a shot, and laying two hits. One of his two hits was on Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, a booming shoulder check at the Vancouver blue line: "It was a light hit," Tsyplakov said with a laugh. "I don't hit him too hard. Broke his balance a little bit. I think it was a clean hit." Watching the replay again, there's no question that the hit was clean. However, while it may not have felt like a big hit for No. 7, he rocked Hughes. As is tradition in the NHL, teammate Vincent Desharnais tried to fight Tsyplakov for taking out his captain, but Tsyplakov did not oblige. Teammate Matt Martin ended up fighting Desharnais later in the third period, in large part because he challenged Tsyplakov earlier. "We play hockey, not MMA," Tsyplakov said. "Their defenseman wanted to fight. It's hockey. It's a clean hit. If it was a dirty hit, maybe. It doesn't matter. There's no problem. But we play hockey. Play hockey." That quote is right out of the Alexander Romanov book. So is the edge that Tsyplakov plays with, on top of the elite hockey IQ, shot, and net-front presence. When the Islanders signed Tsyplakov this summer, no one expected him to have the kind of effect he's had in the lineup. He's totaled two goals and is second on the team with eight assists and fourth on the team with 10 points. Nine of those points came at even strength, with only one assist coming on the power play. For the last few seasons, the Islanders' second line has been Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, with the left winger a revolving door. Pierre Engvall, Hudson Fasching, and Zach Parise were among the names on their line over the last few years, but Tsyplakov has stayed and improved both of his linemates. Palmieri is among the top names in scoring for the Islanders. He is tied for the team lead in goals with seven and boasts a team-best 15 points; his eight assists are second to Bo Horvat's. Nelson may not be the highest assist or point man on the team, only boasting three and nine, respectively, but his six goals are third-most. Among all their goals, Tsyplakov has contributed and assisted with three of Nelson's markers while adding a helper for five of Palmieri's red lights. Looking deeper into what the line has accomplished, the argument can be made that they've been among the top lines in all of hockey this season. According to MoneyPuck.com [https://moneypuck.com/lines.htm], the Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri is ranked first in Expected Goals (xG) for all forward lines across the NHL with 11 and second in total shot attempts with 195. While their xGF% sits lower in league standings, clocking in at 35th at about 58%, the trio is in a five-way tie for seventh in total goals with 11. Even when the Islanders lost Anthony Duclair and Mathew Barzal to injuries, Roy elected to keep that trio together. And they've rewarded him with steady production. With Anders Lee, Horvat, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau dominating on the team's top line, their second line is an impressive complement. The success of the top six as a whole has been a key reason for the Islanders staying afloat despite the missing pieces, and Tsyplakov has played a vital role.
