VANCOUVER, British Columbia — When Patrick Roy put on the tape of Max Tsyplakov as a KHL player, he saw a markedly different player than the one who’s been struggling to keep his spot in the lineup with the Islanders.
“He was a power forward. A guy that would brings pucks to the net, a guy that played really well defensively,” Roy said after the Islanders practiced Sunday. “So to me, that’s his DNA. And I want him to play his game.”
Tsyplakov will get another chance to do so Monday night against the Canucks as he reenters the Islanders lineup with Max Shabanov drawing out. He’ll play on the second line with Cal Ritchie and Emil Heineman, which should in theory give him a good opportunity to show off those skills.
“[They’re] guys who have really good speed,” Tsyplakov told The Post. “And Heiny has a good shot and Ritchie, good speed, can make a good shot. I just need to work hard, make it my job down low in the O-zone. Be good on the half-wall in the D-zone, just break out [the puck].”
Roy took a diplomatic tack when asked about Shabanov’s recent play, but the winger has struggled of late. He’s gone five games without a point and has just one goal in his last 26.
“I thought he played OK in his games,” Roy said. “Sometimes you just try different things.”
Tsyplakov has struggled to gain traction this season, and has played just four times since Dec. 9 as a result.
“It’s tough,” Tsyplakov said. “Just need to try to be positive. Practice, work hard, get the chance and use the chance.”
Phil Goyette, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Canadiens and the first head coach of the Islanders, died at age 92 on Sunday, the Canadiens announced in a statement.
Goyette, who played seven seasons with the Rangers, including with the 1972 team that lost to the Bruins in the Cup Final, went 6-40-4 as the coach of the expansion Islanders before Earl Ingarfield took over behind the bench.
The Canadiens did not provide a cause of death in their statement, but said that Goyette’s family “would like to thank the public for their wishes of sympathy.”
Ilya Sorokin will start in goal for the Islanders on Monday against the Canucks.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
