The thought process of putting Kyle Palmieri in front of the net on the power play was very simple.
That was largely due to Palmieri being right-handed, allowing him to play against left-handed Bo Horvat in the slot.
“We knew the stick position and that Kyle was a very good player on the 5-on-5 net front,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said Thursday before his team defeated the Blue Jackets 7-3. It was based on what was going on,” he said. “There's no reason he can't be a great 5-on-4 net front player.”
Getting to the net has always been part of Palmieri's game.
However, he has not been as prominent in the crease world as, say, Anders Lee, whose career has revolved around getting chances with chips, deflections, and rebounds.
So it was a bit of a surprise that Palmieri ended up in that spot during training camp.
He hasn't just stuck around, he's pushed the power play and been much more productive, with his conversion rate up nearly 10% from a year ago.
“I never really played. [the net front] Throughout my career, that hasn't happened at all,” Palmieri said before the game. “Usually it would come off in the bumper or halfway down the wall.” [on the power play]. I love it. … The power play tries to generate pucks that reach the net. I'm just going to be there and try to be in the right place for them. ”
The move paid off again Thursday on the Islanders' first power play of the game.
Just 16 seconds after Columbus' Kirill Marchenko finished with a hook, Palmieri was right there at the back door, first stopping a tic-tac-toe passing move from Matt Barzal to Brock Nelson, then at the left post. I found number 21. The play was developed by assistant coach John McClain.
“Birzee made a great play finding Nellie,” Palmieri said. “That play was something we talked about a little bit that might happen. Nellie captured it exactly on my tape. Clear the net.”
The Islanders announced they will open two public pond hockey rinks, called The Park, at UBS Arena on Dec. 27 to host youth and adult hockey tournaments and community programs.
Sebastian Aho (upper body) has been skating with the team since Thursday morning, but a timetable for his return from the injury sustained Nov. 24 in Ottawa has not yet been determined.
Coach Lambert said Matt Martin is still unable to play despite returning from injured reserve last week.
Martin has appeared in just one game since Nov. 13.
