ST. LOUIS — After a disappointing 1-0 overtime loss to St. Louis to end their first road trip of the season in disappointing fashion, there's really only one lineup the Islanders are justified in considering changing. is.
But after the trio's underwhelming start, Patrick Roy appears to be showing patience on the fourth line.
“I'm very happy for them,” Roy said before the Islanders played St. Louis. “I love their energy. I love the way they play. And you know, I don't care about any line. [they’re against]I feel very comfortable with them on the ice. ”
The trio of Casey Cizikas, Kyle MacLean, and Oliver Wahlstrom is the only Islanders line with a negative point differential so far, but they also have the highest percentage of faceoffs in the offensive zone. low.
Roy was also pleased with the game against the Blues, pointing to a particular change late in the second period as an example of the poise he wants the Islanders to show in the offensive zone.
If Roy wants to shake things up, trading Wahlstrom for Julien Gauthier could make sense along with Cizikas and MacLean for speed.
In the first few games, Wahlstrom was caught out of place on several occasions, including the Avalanche's Cal Ritchie's opening goal on Monday night.
However, Roy is satisfied that No. 26 has been acquitted so far.
“He's playing with two guys that play with so much energy, so he's got guys that are playing really well on offense and defense, so in the sense that it doesn't have to be perfect. , I think that helps him a lot with that intensity,'' Roy said Wednesday. “So I think it’s good for him and I feel like defensively he’s doing a lot of good things.
“A lot of times he was back as a low forward and covering for them, so I love that. And on the wall, he's doing a really good job. He's getting better and better every game. So I think the better he plays, the more his confidence grows and I think we'll see great things from him.”
The Blues were without a number of regulars Thursday, including former Islanders Nick Leddy (lower body), Alexandre Texier (upper body), Oskar Sundqvist (knee) and Torey Krug (ankle).
After Leddy was injured in Tuesday night's loss to the Wild, Pierre-Olivier Joseph replaced Leddy in the lineup.
Ilya Sorokin started for the Islanders with a net goal for the second straight game.
Joel Hofer was at the crease in St. Louis.
