Islanders make wholesale changes to spark lifeless power play

The wholesale changes to both power-play units instigated by Patrick Roy on Wednesday were a long time coming for an Islanders club which took its worst-in-class special teams from a year ago and somehow regressed even further.Given that John MacLean, who ran the power play under the previous administration, is still in the same role, this is likely a mere coincidence.But it is noteworthy nonetheless that since Roy’s takeover behind the bench last January, the Islanders have converted at five-on-four at an abysmal 15.78 percent, and came into Wednesday’s match doing so this season at 12.7 percent, ranked 31st ahead of only that night’s opponent, the Bruins.So, yes, something had to change.There was not a declared top unit, with Roy indicating he has no preconceived plan as to which one will get more time or if there will be an equal split.Ryan Pulock quarterbacked one unit with Noah Dobson and Simon Holmstrom on either half-wall, Jean-Gabriel Pageau at the bumper and Anders Lee at the net.

Dennis Cholowski quarterbacked the other with Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson on the walls, Bo Horvat at the bumper and Maxim Tsyplakov at the net.Dobson, who has been the PP1 quarterback pretty much uninterrupted since the 2021-22 season, told The Post he believes it’s the first time he’s played anywhere else on the power play since juniors.“It’s definitely different,” he said.“A lot different.

I think you just try and be adaptable as a player.Different looks, you’re getting pucks at different times, different spots.

I think you just try to be as adaptable as possible, whether you’re up top or on the half-wall.“I know sometimes in the game there’s interchange and you end up in a spot you’re not in normally.So I think you gotta be comfortable playing all the spots.” Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

Please provide a valid email address.By clicking above you agre...