ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kyle MacLean was out of Sunday’s lineup with sickness, so the Islanders tried one thing manner out of left subject.
Adam Boqvist, a defenseman, centered the fourth line in MacLean’s spot because the Islanders went with a lineup that was technically 11 forwards and 7 defenseman, with the intent of taking part in as if it had been 12 and eight.
“I kind of asked him if he’s open,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned earlier than a 4-1 loss to the Geese. “He said whatever helps the team to win. That’s what we want from our guys.”
Scott Mayfield drew again in on protection whereas Matt Martin, activated off injured reserve Saturday, was a wholesome scratch.
Boqvist in the end performed 10:52 of ice, with 8:13 of that coming at even energy, accounting for one shot on web on a line with Pierre Engvall and Marc Gatcomb, with Engvall taking faceoffs.
The present setup of the Islanders roster, with 13 forwards and 9 defensemen, lends itself to one thing like this taking place if a ahead is out.
And Boqvist, being probably the most offensive defenseman on the crew, was the teaching employees’s first option to step up as a ahead.
“Appreciate that,” Roy mentioned. “Appreciate what he did and I thought he had a good game.”
“At the NHL level, it might be a first [for him],” Roy mentioned. “But at the same time, he’s so good offensively. He’ll play down low for these guys [Marc Gatcomb and Pierre Engvall], and he’ll be on the rush. We’ll see how it goes. It’s to start the game, isn’t it?”
After being activated off injured reserve Saturday, Marcus Hogberg was in web for the Islanders on Sunday, giving Ilya Sorokin a uncommon time without work.
“He worked so hard after the injury,” Roy mentioned of Hogberg, who suffered a presumed hand harm Jan. 25. “He was on the ice nearly on daily basis with [goalie coach] Piero [Greco]. He was not receiving pictures, however he was getting himself prepared.
“When the shots came, he was confident enough the puck won’t go on his finger, hit the shaft of his stick and go on his finger. Overall, it’s nice to see someone working so hard, at that opportunity. … The last game he played against Carolina, he played so well. We’re happy to see him back.”
Hogberg, who is likely to be the backup for the remainder of the season with Semyon Varlamov’s standing murky at finest, stopped 22-of-25 pictures in entrance of a leaky Islanders protection.
“First of all, it was fun to play again, to play in a game,” Hogberg mentioned. “Little bit rusty, but it helped me the more the game went on. I felt more comfortable.”
Kyle Palmieri missed the final 7:38 of the second interval with an obvious harm however returned to play within the third.
