Girls Youth Hockey EAST MEADOW, NY -- After the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/]' power play went 0-for-3 in their 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Patrick Roy knew it was finally time to make a change. After that goose egg, his team now sits at 12.7 percent, second worst in the NHL. The only team worse is the Boston Bruins at 12.4 percent, the team they welcome to Elmont on Wednesday night. Roy made a few changes, but the biggest change was removing Noah Dobson from the point on the top unit. "Everything we do is to win, and that's how the guys feel as well," Roy said on Wednesday morning. "And, sometimes, you have to try different things. For example, Noah used to be at the top. Right now, we put him on the flank. He's got so many skills and talent that he could make plays. He could drive that back net. He could create a lot of offense by doing this. On the other unit, we just put Bo [Horvat] there. We feel like Simon [Holmstrom] is ready to step up in that position, and we'll see how it goes." Like everything, things are subject to change. "It could change every day, but at the same time, we're going to have to be patient because it's a new position for some of those guys," Roy said. "But the main thing is having Bo [Horvat] in the bumper with Palmieri and Nelson. Hopefully, they'll find ways to create some offense and continue to create chances because the chances are there. It's just a matter of finishing. It's nice to create something, but you got to finish at some point." The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] caught up with Dobson to see if he's ever played in the one-time spot on the left side before. "Not really. From what I remember, maybe in junior at some point," Dobson said. "But yeah, I don't think in the NHL. I'm trying to think back, but it's definitely something new.” While Dobson doesn't have to one-time the puck from that spot, he is a righty and could step into one if given the chance. "With power plays, you just gotta kind of take what they give you, right?" Dobson said. "There's gonna be different looks. Teams kill in different ways. So, I think it's just taking what they give you and trying to get the open looks and pucks to the net and get the rebounds. Just move it quick and start from there, then try and build off of it." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDAzNDA5NjczNzU4MTk2/usatsi_24839280.jpg] When we asked Roy a few weeks ago, he was hesitant to put two defensemen on the power play, saying that it wasn't something they had considered. But Roy decided to do that with Dennis Cholowski and Dobson on Monday night and now will do so again with Pulock and No. 8. "Pulock's got a great shot. This is the way it is right now, but during the course of the game, things can happen," Roy said. "He's got a great shot. And we will try to create a connection between him and Anders [Lee] where they could work together on what kind of shot Anders wants from the point. "And then, sometimes, you got the one-timer that could be there. So these are options, and we feel like we should try." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDAzNDU2NjQ5OTYyOTk2/usatsi_24501640.jpg] Roy loved what he saw from Cholowski on the power play, something he was known for despite struggling to find an everyday role at the NHL level. "Zero complaints. He's moving the puck well. The first thing I was told was that he's a good power-play guy, and I have to admit, he's been doing a really good job. It's easier for Palmieri with Cholowski being a lefty than a righty. The angle is better. It's more easy for them to receive passes. So, I feel like it opens up more ice for us and creates something. We have Nelson on the flank as well." For Dobson, having a second defenseman on the ice with him isn't a huge deal at all. “I wouldn't say it's a different feeling, really," Dobson said. "I think at this level, everyone's capable of being in different spots and having that comfort wherever, whether it's a defenseman or forward. "I think you have to try to be adaptable. Even on the power play, it's not stagnant. You're moving around. You find yourself in different spots, but, yeah, I think hopefully we can get it going and spark something.” There have been many reasons why the Islanders aren't higher in the standings and why they've blown so many leads. But one of the biggest reasons they have struggled to build on their slim one-goal leads in games is the power play. In their 14 losses, the power play has gone 2-for-35, putting up a zero in 11 of them: They are now 4-for-32 in the month of November and 8-for-63 on the season. The Islanders have struggled to score at 5-on-5, currently scoring the eighth-fewest with 37. The power play is supposed to make up for that, but it certainly has not. “I think anytime things aren't going well, you want to try to spark something and try different personnel or different looks and try and get something going," Dobson said. "Hopefully, we can get the power play rolling." Palmieri, who leads the Islanders in goals (10), is tied for the team lead with nine assists and leads in points (19). He is open to the changes because he knows how key a strong power play is to success, especially for this team. “I think obviously we want some more success. It's something that can make a big impact on a game," Palmieri said. "It wasn't working before, so you got to change and adjust on the fly, and we're looking forward to the challenge tonight.” Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDAzNTAwNjczMzc3Nzgw/usatsi_24839366.jpg] It would be one thing if the power play lacked goal scorers, but this top unit now has three 30-goal scorers, with a weapon in Maxim Tsyplakov in front and a shift Dennis Cholowski at the point. “I think simplifying things [is important]," Palmieri said. "For us, it's really about getting the pucks to the net and finding second opportunities. For all the pretty power plays that are in the top five and top 10, a lot of the goals are still rebounds and broken plays and things like that, so it doesn't have to be picture-perfect. “I think everyone has the ability to shoot the puck and get pucks through, so it's switching up a little bit, having guys in different spots. Obviously, Nelson had taken the face-off, and he had to find his way over to the other side. I think we're excited for the challenge, and like I said, it's an opportunity to make an impact on the game.” The power play struggled before Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair went down, but that's not an excuse for the lack of execution. While those players are working back from injury, the Islanders need points, and the power play needs to start contributing or staying afloat in the Eastern Conference wild card, which will be a tough task.
