Kyle MacLean is one long-term asset in a series where the Islanders appear to be on the verge of elimination and that not even their strongest player can win a game against Carolina.
On Thursday night, the rookie continued to play with noticeable energy on both ends of the ice, adding to a series in which his impact has been overwhelmingly positive. He created enough opportunities that Patrick Roy felt forced to try him for a few shifts on the top line with Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal.
“I felt he played a great game,” Roy remarked on Friday via a Zoom call. “We were doing double shifts with Barzal and Horvat. Since Casey [Cizikas] is not used to playing that many minutes, I felt Kyle could make a valuable contribution. I also completed the line with [Kyle] Palmieri and [Brock] Nelson; allow [Hudson Fasching] a little respite.”
During the regular season, it was widely believed that MacLean was securing his position as a future fourth-line center.
After a solid first game on the third line and three games into the series, the rookie has been the Islanders’ best skater, so it is worth asking if he is more than that.
