Max Tsyplakov didn’t take it personally.
He is aware of he made a mistake by turning the puck over deep in his personal zone Tuesday evening, main on to a aim in opposition to. And, greater than that, he’s not thrilled together with his sport recently normally.
So listening to coach Patrick Roy say after the loss to the Kings that he must be higher didn’t upset the Russian.
“It was my mistake for the second goal,” Tsyplakov mentioned Friday earlier than the Islanders misplaced 2-1 in extra time to Edmonton. “I need to be better on the puck and probably more safe. Don’t give everything. Just be better on the puck.”
Roy mentioned the message was communicated in personal to Tsyplakov earlier than he introduced it up, unprompted, in his information convention after the loss.
“I always want to make sure that I have that conversation with our players that they know,” Roy mentioned. “I don’t want them to read in the paper what I have to say. I’d rather the opposite. But Sippy’s a great hockey player. He’s a great person. But at the same time, my job is to make our guys accountable. I want to be positive, but I also want to be true.”
Tsyplakov, 26 years outdated however in his first NHL season after making the soar from Russia this summer season, is likely to be hitting one thing of a rookie wall proper now.
After being a staple on the second line via mid-December, his function turned much less constant and his scoring has dropped off a cliff.
He’s one of many Islanders’ extra bodily gamers, and is third in hits behind Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, however after Friday, had gone 26 matches with out scoring.
There was additionally a mid-January suspension for 3 video games after a examine to the pinnacle of Ryan Poehling, and a few wholesome scratches. To not point out a snafu together with his agent in Russia occurring a present and getting forward of himself on contract talks.
“I have a long period without scoring, maybe a little bit tired about this,” Tsyplakov mentioned. “I wish to assist our workforce rating. However extra as a result of I attempt — I attempt going to the web, attempt to keep on the web, attempt to be higher on the puck. Typically you could have video games whenever you simply can’t do what you need. Simply wish to be higher.
“I understand it’s my first season. Start is probably good, but I felt a little bit long without scoring. This is a game. Just a game.”
Adam Boqvist was out Friday with an upper-body harm sustained Tuesday in opposition to the Kings, with Scott Mayfield coming again into the lineup.
Adam Pelech mentioned he thinks his foot is OK after blocking a shot in extra time, however would get it checked out.
Anthony Duclair returned to the sport after trying to be in severe ache after taking a shot off his ankle in the course of the third interval.
