Not long after Wednesday night’s game ended in 5-2 loss to the Stars at Barclays Center, Islanders coach Doug Weight provided a stern assessment of his third line.
“It’s becoming an issue,” he said, and then let roster moves over the next 48 hours do the rest of the talking.
Anthony Beauvillier was a healthy scratch Thursday and resurfaced on the fourth line Saturday while Josh Ho-Sang was sent to AHL Bridgeport on Friday.
By Saturday’s game back at Barclays Center against the Kings, Brock Nelson was the last man standing from the third line that played Wednesday. Joining him on the new line were center Casey Cizikas and right wing Cal Clutterbuck.
Ho-Sang and Beauvillier, meanwhile, have been given directives aimed at finding confidence and consistency in their new spots.
“[Beauvillier] has to make a statement tonight to me,” Weight said before the game. “Win some draws, be physical, get pucks in. … He’s got some great wheels, but you gotta slap me in the face to put you back out there again.”
He went pointless again, but the 20-year old seemed to accomplish the job.
“I thought [Jason Chimera] and Beau were really good in that role,” Weight said.
For the 21-year-old Ho-Sang, who recorded two goals and six assists over 16 games since coming back up from Bridgeport on Nov. 11, the goal was to rediscover his game with more consistent playing time in the minors.
“He’s gotta play high minutes in some situations where I haven’t been allowed to put him in enough,” Weight said.
Five-hundred eighty-nine days passed between NHL games for Steve Bernier, but he was more than happy to make his return to the ice Saturday night at Barclays Center on the Islanders’ fourth line and second power-play unit.
see also
Jordan Eberle puts finishing touch on Islanders comeback
The Islanders were right back in an all-too-familiar spot Saturday,…
“My game is very simple,” Bernier said before the game, a day after he was recalled from AHL Bridgeport. “I don’t try to do anything flashy out there. … I waited for a long time and I’ll try to do my best.”
Looking for some consistency and the ability to get pucks in the Islanders’ own zone, Weight was banking on the “positionally reliable” Bernier to help.
“He’s not here to change the world,” Weight said. “He’s just going to play his game, but we need some stability. He’s a great person, he’s well respected in the room and it’s going to be good for us.”
The crowd of 13,087 was the second-highest attendance at Barclays Center this season. Only the home opener (15,234) was better.