DALLAS — Max Tsyplakov didn’t take a rookie lap earlier than his NHL debut on Thursday night time, and he didn’t look very like a rookie as soon as the sport acquired underway, both.
The 26-year-old had impressed all through the preseason after arriving from the KHL, however the query of how rapidly he would modify to the NHL recreation remained heading into opening night time.
Tsyplakov answered by scoring a objective, allotting six hits, skating extra minutes than any Islanders ahead aside from Mathew Barzal and taking part in an all-around stable recreation because the Isles misplaced 5-4 to Utah HC.
There have been a bunch of causes for concern from this recreation, wherein neither particular groups unit impressed and wherein the Islanders seemed disconnected for lengthy stretches at five-on-five.
Tsyplakov, although, appeared to get extra comfy together with his linemates because the night time went on and will rely the night time as a hit, an important optimistic for the Islanders, who’re relying on him to be a key contributor immediately.
“I attempt to battle, lots of hits,” Tsyplakov mentioned. “And I really feel good. All good.”
Tsyplakov’s objective off the push, which put the Islanders up 4-3 with 2:07 remaining, was all set to be the lead story from the sport, for all of a minute.
As a substitute, the Islanders rapidly let up the tying objective to Josh Doan and misplaced in time beyond regulation, relegating what would have been a game-winning objective from their debutant to an afterthought amid the wreckage.
Nonetheless, the objective itself was a play that confirmed off Tsyplakov’s maturity, as he sunk in behind the push to take Brock Nelson’s feed earlier than displaying a fast launch in beating Connor Ingram.
“We noticed typically going within the zone, pulling again, searching for the third man excessive,” Anthony Duclair mentioned. “Making these little performs the place you’re feeling like he’s already performed within the NHL earlier than. Trying ahead to a extremely good season from him.”
Tsyplakov was amongst essentially the most spectacular performers all through camp and the preseason, taking part in his approach onto the second line after Roy began him additional down the lineup at the start of camp.
This was extra proof that he belongs there, and that Tsyplakov is mostly a rookie solely in title — with years of professional expertise in Russia serving as a worthwhile basis.
The Islanders are staking so much on Tsyplakov’s potential to stay on the second line alongside Nelson and Kyle Palmieri in a left wing spot that rotated by a variety of unsatisfactory choices in the course of the second half of final season.
Pierre Engvall, the participant who spent essentially the most time there in 2023-24, is presently within the AHL, having didn’t make the workforce out of camp.
Nobody is anticipating perfection immediately from Tsyplakov and there have been moments on Thursday — notably a protracted shift within the defensive zone which finally led to Barrett Hayton’s second-period objective — the place the trio struggled to get on the identical web page when breaking out of the zone.
General, although, everybody felt good concerning the unit’s debut, and particularly, how Tsyplakov acquitted himself.
“I assumed he had a robust recreation,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned. “I used to be completely happy to see him rating that objective. He was actually good. He performed the identical approach he performed within the final two exhibition video games. Performed with that poise. In all, I used to be very happy.”
On an evening when the outcome dripped with unsettling familiarity, this was one thing totally different — and in a great way.
“I believe all of us noticed it from the preseason and even tonight, the best way [Tsyplakov] slows the play down. He’s acquired a particularly good hockey IQ,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau mentioned. “You see him make lots of good performs tonight with the puck and with out the puck, some good reads. So he was an enormous a part of why we acquired a degree tonight.”
