Islanders Maxim Tsyplakov shakes off rocky start, gives glimpse of skills in first taste of NHL

Some 10 minutes after the Islanders wrapped up their preseason opener Sunday, the area around Maxim Tsyplakov’s stall in the visiting locker room at the Prudential Center looked like a bedroom that needed cleaning.Gear and equipment on the floor.Hockey bag open, but everything around it — not in it.

Nearly all of the other Islanders had quickly packed up.Tsyplakov, an equipment manager jokingly chided, had to get a move on.But then again, everyone could afford him some grace.

This was his first game in North America, after all.A winger who’s played his career up until now in the KHL, Tsyplakov came into camp as perhaps the biggest unknown on the roster.A preseason game is just one data point, and not an especially strong one, but the picture is a little clearer after the Russian skated 12:21 in the Isles’ 4-2 victory over the Devils.“Little bit harder first shift.

First and second shift, I think, I didn’t like because the puck is loose,” Tsyplakov said.“After is much better.

[I] understand how to play, I’m good.”The night had indeed threatened to turn sour on Tsyplakov’s first shift — where he turned the puck over on the penalty kill leading directly to a Nico Hischier goal.But he made up for that as the game went on by showing some skill as a power forward, protecting the puck well and dishing a smooth no-look assist on Julien Gauthier’s second-period goal.“I know my plan,” Tsyplakov said of the assist, which came via a three-on-one rush.

“I need to look like shoot and the D believed me.I can pass.”The way-too-early book on Tsyplakov — based on training camp practices as well as Sunday night — is that he’ll add some net-front presence and physicality to the lineup.

But exactly how much and exactly where in the lineup it makes sense to slot him is still up in the air.During camp, however, his teammates have been impressed with how Tsyplakov operates down low.“He’s got a big body, it’s pretty hard to move him,” Al...