Throughout his first two NHL seasons, Simon Holmstrom used to catch himself overthinking issues on the ice.
In some methods, that got here right down to a scarcity of expertise, with Holmstrom needing to achieve confidence and sometimes being instructed to shoot extra typically.
“I think a lot of people go through that process once or twice in their career,” Holmstrom instructed The Publish earlier than the Islanders’ 2-1 win over the Golden Knights on Tuesday. “Especially last year, overthinking things. Now I go out there and play with confidence and play my game. I think that’s been the biggest part this season.”
Not simply this season, however the previous six weeks particularly.
Holmstrom — who missed some video games with damage over that span — got here into Tuesday with 14 factors in his previous 15 video games courting again to mid-December.
He didn’t have some extent within the Islanders’ win on Tuesday evening.
In 46 video games this season, Holmstrom has scored extra factors than he did in 75 a 12 months in the past, and he seems like a menace to succeed in 20 objectives for the primary time.
The way in which Holmstrom bought again into kind straight away coming off the damage additionally stood out in distinction to different Islanders who’ve been damage this season.
He scored in his second sport again and has averaged practically some extent per sport over eight contests since returning.
For an Islanders staff that lacks scoring depth, this was an important subsequent step for the 23-year-old Swede to make.
“I think when you play more, you get more ice time, you get a couple goals in and a couple points, it definitely helps,” Holmstrom mentioned. “Just the confidence level, I think, is the biggest thing. I think that’s been the biggest reason [for] this season.”
For Holmstrom to finally crack the highest six, he nonetheless wants to say himself offensively a bit extra — sure, it will nonetheless be good for him to shoot the puck extra typically — however he’s turned himself right into a key a part of the staff’s third line and constructed a robust rapport with Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
“Experience, that’s all,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned. “I think he’s learning the league more. I think he takes advantage of it. He knows the league. Sometimes it’s just time. I think in his case, experience makes a big difference.”
Ilya Sorokin was again in nets for the Islanders after sitting out Sunday’s sport at Florida and had 33 saves in Tuesday’s win.
Hudson Fasching (higher physique) was on the ice for morning skate, evidently having completed a conditioning stint with AHL Bridgeport.
