trim_14028474-D033-4FF6-B654-3A09671C9AFC When Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a late scratch ahead of the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islanders-dylan-cozens-sabres-patrick-roy-lindy-ruff]' game against Washington Capitals on Friday, forward Simon Holmstrom was called on in a pinch. Head coach Patrick Roy moved the young forward to the team's top line, slotting him alongside Bo Horvat and Anders Lee. Last time Holmstrom got an opportunity on the top line early in the season, he struggled to show confidence in his abilities, eventually leading to his demotion to the third line. While playing alongside Casey Cizikas and Pierre Engvall, we saw a different Holmstrom, a confident Holmstrom who was possesing and protecting the puck and not shying away from sending the puck toward goal. Through two games on the top line, Holmstrom has brought that version of himself and it's paid off immensiley. Against the Capitals, albeit a 5-4 overtime loss after the team belw a 4-2 third-period lead, Holmstrom recorded his first multi-goal performance of his NHL career. Then, he followed that performance up with yet another multi-goal game, helping the Islanders beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 on Saturday night. "I've played with those two guys before, so I felt pretty confident going in there," Holmstrom said. "We have a lot of guys out right now, so someone's got to step up. And getting that chance, I've got to take it." (H/t New York Islanders [https://www.nhl.com/news/buffalo-sabres-new-york-islanders-game-recap-november-30]) The timing of his four goals have also been incredibly important. His first of four opened the scoring against the Capitals off a feed from Lee in the corner: His second of the game came late in the second period, give New York a 4-2 lead. After a Dennis Cholowski shot from the left point, Holmstrom tipped the puck behind Capitals netminder Logan Thompson to extend the Islanders' lead: On Saturday, with the Islanders up 1-0 courtesy of an Anders Lee power play goal, Holmstrom buried a one-time feed from Lee, beating James Reimer to double New York's lead: That goal came just 2:05 after Lee, as momentum was certainly on the Islanders' side. Holmstrom added an empty-net goal in the third with eight seconds to play in regulation to seal the 3-0 victory and, ultimately, a shutout win for Ilya Sorokin. "He's playing with a lot of confidence," Roy said. "I was happy to see him score that empty netter there, because he had a strong night. I thought that line possessed the puck. They were good offensively. They were good on the fore-check. They were playing well defensively. I thought that line played a solid game, and that's what we needed." Confidence seemed to be the key to unlocking Holmstrom's offensive outpuit but as you saw on his empty-netter, his defensive play is why he's been able to stick in the NHL. "The play that he made for the empty netter, I mean, come on. That was a great read," Roy added. "He put his stick right in the right place, and he cut the play because they were going for a cross pass and and he did a super nice job. "So the sniff that he has for those defensive play, I mean, he's playing PK for us. He does a really nice job. And right now, I mean, his confidence is growing, which is good for our team." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDkyMzA0NDkwOTMxNzAw/usatsi_24883962.jpg] Prior to the move to the make-shift top line, Holmstrom was starting to find a touch offensively. Over his first 10 games of the season, he only tallied a mere two assists. In his next 13 games before moving up, he tallied three goals and five assists, not lighting the world on fire but a step forward. Holmstrom now has four more goals over the holiday back-to-back, with each coming in different situations and ways in terms of play development. His season stats now sit at seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 24 games. "He's such a smart player. He sees the ice and understands what Bo and I are trying to do and where we want him when he doesn't have the puck," Lee said. "He's winning a lot of battles, so he keeps the puck alive for us, even if it's just to chip it back behind the net. It gives us another go at it. And those are big battles and stuff that Pageau was doing too, and we try to do for each other, and it keeps the shift going. It gives us another chance to attack a spot, and he's been great with that." The 23-year-old is on pace to finish the season with 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points, which would all be career-highs. "He's come a long way. I think especially at this time, moving down the lineup, and playing a shut down role, and then moving up the lineup with Bo [Horvat] and he has four goals in his last two games," Matt Martin said. "He's going to continue to develop his offensive game. His defensive game, I think, he's very strong. Obviously plays penalty kill for us and power play. "At the end of the day, I think we forget how young he is. He's been around for a long time, and he still got a lot of growth in areas that he's going to improve in. Offensively, I think it's good to see him pot some goals and build his confidence. He can be a force." There was no update on Pageau outside of him remaining day-to-day so we'll see if No. 44 will be back when the Islanders head to Montreal to battle the Canadiens on Tuesday night at 7 PM. Regardless, it looks like Holmstrom has earned the opportunity to remain on the top line.
