Islanders Practice: All Accounted For, Potential Change For Tuesday

After an off-day on Sunday, the New York Islanders took the ice at Northwell Ice Center Tuesday morning. The New York Islanders play four games over the next seven days, starting off with a home-and-home with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at UBS Arena.

Here’s the latest from Monday’s practice:

Pre-Practice

Before the official start of the New York Islanders team practice, both Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin were on the ice getting some extra work in. The shooters were forwards Kieffer Bellows, Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Sebastian Aho.

The drills were nothing crazy as the puck carrier skated towards the outside before feeding another skater towards the far post for a quick shot.

Practice

Besides Scott Mayfield and Cal Clutterbuck, all other skaters were accounted for on Monday.

Forward Casey Cizikas, who missed Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues because of a one-game suspension, was back on the ice and is available for Tuesday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Although lines on practice day are never a definitive answer for the games ahead, here’s how the Islanders lined up.

Forwards:

Anders Lee–Brock Nelson–Anthony Beauvillier

Josh Bailey–Jean-Gabriel Pageau–Kyle Palmieri

Zach Parise/Kieffer Bellows–Mathew Barzal–Kieffer Bellows/Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin–Casey Cizikas–Ross Johnston

Defense:

Adam Pelech–Ryan Pulock

Zdeno Chara–Noah Dobson

Grant Hutton-Andy Greene/Sebastian Aho

It was roughly the same lineup we have seen for the last few weeks. But one thing to keep in mind is the third line, especially Oliver Wahlstrom.

Kieffer Bellows took more shifts than Wahlstrom did Monday, some with Oliver Wahlstrom and Mathew Barzal and others with Parise and Barzal. Was Wahlstrom’s penalty from Saturday enough to have him take a seat on Tuesday?

Oliver Wahlstrom played 10:31 on Saturday, almost a four-minute uptick in-game action from his 6:41 on Friday in the 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He was a minus-three on the night, with one shot, a giveaway, and a takeaway. He also took a rather foolish penalty at 4:36 of the third period, in which he closed his hand on the puck in the defensive zone.

Even at 21-years old, Wahlstrom needed to be better than that. It was a mental mistake by Wahlstrom that in the past would have led to a benching. But Wahlstrom did take four more shifts in the third period before the game came to a close.

However, it would not be shocking to see Kieffer Bellows play Tuesday alongside Zach Parise and Mathew Barzal.

In Saturday’s loss, 21-year old Oliver Wahlstrom did not play his best game and has not been at his best over the last few. In Friday’s 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Wahlstrom played just 6:41 TOI. After the game, head coach Barry Trotz said that he thought Wahlstrom played well.

But due to the usage of special teams often in the contest, there were just not enough minutes available. Wahlstrom had just one shot on goal in that win.

Bellows has been a healthy scratch for five straight games, having last played in the 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Mar. 31. There was a chance that he would play this past Saturday, with Cizikas out of the lineup, but a late call-up from Bridgeport, in Andy Andreoff, played instead.

The New York Islanders practice showcased a ton of smiles, laughs, and some roughhousing. Luckily, my reflexes are still top-notch and I was able to get a video and a picture of some of the fun (initial tweet, comment underneath).

Some fun on the ice today, starring Beauvillier and Wahlstrom. #Isles pic.twitter.com/LDaBnZVpNF

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) April 11, 2022

The New York Islanders have 11 games to play before the regular season comes to a close and this practice was more than likely the last team practice of the season.