ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kyle MacLean was out of Sunday’s lineup with illness, so the Islanders tried something way out of left field.
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 playing as if it were 12 and eight.
“I form of asked him if he’s open,” coach Patrick Roy said before a 4-1 loss to the Geese. “He said whatever helps the team to win. That’s what we would like from our guys.”
Scott Mayfield drew back in on defense while Matt Martin, activated off injured reserve Saturday, was a healthy scratch.
Boqvist ultimately played 10:52 of ice, with 8:13 of that coming at even strength, accounting for one shot on net on a line with Pierre Engvall and Marc Gatcomb, with Engvall taking faceoffs.
The present setup of the Islanders roster, with 13 forwards and nine defensemen, lends itself to something like this happening if a forward is out.
And Boqvist, being essentially the most offensive defenseman on the team, was the coaching staff’s first alternative to step up as a forward.
“Appreciate that,” Roy said. “Appreciate what he did and I assumed he had a superb game.”
“On the NHL level, it is likely to be a primary [for him],” Roy said. “But at the identical 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 push. We’ll see the way it goes. It’s to begin the sport, isn’t it?”
After being activated off injured reserve Saturday, Marcus Hogberg was in net for the Islanders on Sunday, giving Ilya Sorokin a rare time without work.
“He worked so hard after the injury,” Roy said of Hogberg, who suffered a presumed hand injury Jan. 25. “He was on the ice almost daily with [goalie coach] Piero [Greco]. He was not receiving shots, but he was getting himself ready.
“When the shots got here, 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 chance. … The last game he played against Carolina, he played so well. We’re completely happy to see him back.”
Hogberg, who is likely to be the backup for the remainder of the season with Semyon Varlamov’s status murky at best, stopped 22-of-25 shots in front of a leaky Islanders defense.
“Initially, it was fun to play again, to play in a game,” Hogberg said. “Little bit rusty, however it helped me the more the sport went on. I felt more comfortable.”
Kyle Palmieri missed the last 7:38 of the second period with an apparent injury but returned to play within the third.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kyle MacLean was out of Sunday’s lineup with illness, so the Islanders tried something way out of left field.
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 playing as if it were 12 and eight.
“I form of asked him if he’s open,” coach Patrick Roy said before a 4-1 loss to the Geese. “He said whatever helps the team to win. That’s what we would like from our guys.”
Scott Mayfield drew back in on defense while Matt Martin, activated off injured reserve Saturday, was a healthy scratch.
Boqvist ultimately played 10:52 of ice, with 8:13 of that coming at even strength, accounting for one shot on net on a line with Pierre Engvall and Marc Gatcomb, with Engvall taking faceoffs.
The present setup of the Islanders roster, with 13 forwards and nine defensemen, lends itself to something like this happening if a forward is out.
And Boqvist, being essentially the most offensive defenseman on the team, was the coaching staff’s first alternative to step up as a forward.
“Appreciate that,” Roy said. “Appreciate what he did and I assumed he had a superb game.”
“On the NHL level, it is likely to be a primary [for him],” Roy said. “But at the identical 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 push. We’ll see the way it goes. It’s to begin the sport, isn’t it?”
After being activated off injured reserve Saturday, Marcus Hogberg was in net for the Islanders on Sunday, giving Ilya Sorokin a rare time without work.
“He worked so hard after the injury,” Roy said of Hogberg, who suffered a presumed hand injury Jan. 25. “He was on the ice almost daily with [goalie coach] Piero [Greco]. He was not receiving shots, but he was getting himself ready.
“When the shots got here, 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 chance. … The last game he played against Carolina, he played so well. We’re completely happy to see him back.”
Hogberg, who is likely to be the backup for the remainder of the season with Semyon Varlamov’s status murky at best, stopped 22-of-25 shots in front of a leaky Islanders defense.
“Initially, it was fun to play again, to play in a game,” Hogberg said. “Little bit rusty, however it helped me the more the sport went on. I felt more comfortable.”
Kyle Palmieri missed the last 7:38 of the second period with an apparent injury but returned to play within the third.
