DALLAS — Islanders Fourth Line Shifts After Loss to Avalanche

Sunday night marked the ninth different combination the Islanders have tried on their fourth line in just 18 games this season. This adjustment might have finally created some synergy at the bottom of their lineup.

The Islanders faced a 4-1 defeat against the Avalanche, but it was notable because it was the first time this season that the fourth line was recognized as the team’s best unit during the game—even if Colorado’s two late goals somewhat skewed the outcome.

This game also marked the return of Max Shabanov from injury, as he joined Cal Ritchie and Casey Cizikas to form a new trio of Russian wingers.

Shabanov, who stands at 5-foot-9, seemed an unlikely fit for the fourth line, yet this group was prominent throughout the game.

They effectively forechecked and were the only line consistently securing territory against a tough opponent.

Coach Patrick Roy commented positively on their performance, saying, “I thought they had a good buzz. When they came into the game, I thought they had the puck. I thought they played a great game, the three of them.”

However, the line’s performance wasn’t flawless. Cizikas’ limited ice time in the third period indicates that Roy sees room for improvement. Interestingly, Cizikas was the only player removed from the rotation that night, only skating one shift in the final period.

Despite some struggles this season, it’s uncertain if the Islanders will opt for a healthy scratch for him. Everyone remembers the backlash from scratching Josh Bailey just before his 1,000th game a few years back—something Lane Lambert surely wouldn’t want to repeat. Still, a fourth line featuring Max Tsyplakov, Ritchie, and Shabanov could be worth exploring.

Shabanov’s resilience following an almost month-long injury hiatus was heartening, especially considering his smaller stature. His previous games had been inconsistent; often, his skill was overshadowed by the physicality of play.

Roy mentioned, “I thought he played well. That was the type of injury he had, an upper-body injury. You don’t really get hit in practice, so you’re always curious about how someone reacts when they make contact. I thought he didn’t hold back on anything.” So perhaps there is cause for optimism among the Islanders.

Cizikas has been a fixture on the fourth line in nearly every game this season. When the team adjusted to 11 forwards and seven defensemen following Matt Barzal’s injury, they essentially played without a proper fourth line, which makes Cizikas’ numbers particularly telling.

Interestingly, according to Evolving Hockey, the game against Colorado boasted the fifth-best expected goal percentage at 5-on-5 this season, while the two preceding games ranked fourth and first, respectively.

The Islanders understand the significance of a strong fourth line, especially recalling the success of the previous identity line that included Matt Martin, Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck.

However, it’s been a while since they consistently had an effective fourth line—perhaps three years or more, culminating in a really tough last season. If this trend starts to reverse, it could spell good news for the Islanders.