Islanders Kyle MacLean wont make excuses for Year 2 woes

LOS ANGELES — A year ago, Kyle MacLean burst onto the Islanders scene like a supernova, playing with an energy and verve that rejuvenated the fourth line for a late run into the playoffs.Year 2 for the 25-year-old has followed a tougher course.“I’m definitely still learning,” MacLean — who was in the lineup against the Kings after missing Sunday’s loss to Anaheim with illness — told The Post before the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Kings on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.“I did get up last year, but this is my first full year from camp on.

Maybe you can say that’s a little bit of it.Definitely don’t want an excuse or anything.

I’ve still got a job to do.I have to perform.”The post-Identity Line fourth line has faced much rougher sledding than anticipated.

MacLean’s linemates have rotated on a near-constant basis all season — the most he’s played with one combination has been 13 games — in part due to injuries and in part because no combination has been particularly effective.MacLean, who played 9:06 in the loss, and Marc Gatcomb, who have made up two-thirds of the fourth line since Gatcomb’s mid-January call-up, are also both on a learning curve in the NHL.“I think when you get called up for the first time, it’s not necessarily riding a high, but it’s sort of a different feeling,” MacLean said.“Things can’t go wrong.

You kind of have a little more adrenaline.And you can’t manufacture that.

It’s the way it is for everybody when they’re first up.“This year, it’s a little more — it’s different in the sense of it’s from camp on.Things aren’t gonna go well [at points].

You have to figure it out, make sure you don’t let those things affect you.Just gotta keep going.” Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

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