Simon Holmstrom’s Surge with the Islanders

Simon Holmstrom faced some challenges at the start of the season. However, after being promoted to the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee, he’s become one of the most effective players for the Islanders. Over the last seven games, he’s racked up an impressive average of a point per game, highlighted by a game-winning goal against the Blue Jackets just 38 seconds before the final whistle on Sunday.

Coach Patrick Roy couldn’t hide his excitement, saying, “It’s amazing. It’s fun to witness how he and Pager complement each other during penalty shootouts and even in regular play. Their line, especially with Anders, is great near the net, maintaining control and setting up scoring opportunities. It’s rewarding to see their hard work pay off.”

Holmstrom’s role on the penalty kill has significantly benefitted the Islanders. He notably scored a shorthanded goal against Philadelphia on October 25, contributing to the team’s streak of three games without conceding a power-play goal. Interestingly, his performance in regular play has notably improved compared to the shaky start early in the season.

Initially, it was surprising to see him not score in the first three games without even putting a shot on goal, especially while he was stuck on the fourth line. But with Pageau back, and performing well, it seems to have reinvigorated Holmstrom’s game and elevated the team’s overall performance.

During Sunday’s game, Holmstrom’s line created numerous scoring opportunities, even breaking through at a crucial moment. He managed to net a rebound from Lee right after Matthew Schaefer had tied the game at two.

“We had a lot of chances. I think Reese even hit the post earlier,” Holmstrom reflected. “Overall, I believe we played really well.”

On another note, Matthew Schaefer is leading all NHL defensemen with five goals after netting two on Sunday.

Roy mentioned that Max Shabanov (upper body injury) started skating but isn’t close to returning just yet. He hasn’t been placed on injured reserve but could be soon if the roster needs adjustments. If he does get placed on long-term injured reserve, he’ll be out until at least November 15th.

Interestingly, despite Ilya Sorokin’s stellar performance blocking 20 shots on Friday, David Rittich started in goal unexpectedly. Roy confirmed that Sorokin will be back in net for Tuesday’s game against the Bruins.