Maxim Tysplakov shows he provides the NY Islanders a new net front presence

As nice as it would've been to see new New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov light up the scoresheet in his first game playing with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, he showed that he can help the teams in other ways during their 4-3 preseason win over the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on Monday night.

Playing 16:07 TOI, he didn't factor in the scoring but played a key role early in the game by providing a screen on Matthew Barzal’s power-play goal from the high slot. If you look closely at the replay (from the game's live stream), you can see him standing at the top of the crease and spreading his arms like an eagle to block the vision of Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov as Barzal's wrister fluttered by.

Head Coach Patrick Roy expressed in the post-game that he wants two "A" power-play units that can maintain momentum and puck possession regardless of whether they score. For years, the main body in front of the net has been Anders Lee, but perhaps Tsyplakov can offer another look from that location. "We need a guy like this in front of the net, with a net presence," said Roy after the game. "I thought he did a good job of that tonight."

Overall, he likely did enough to get another opportunity to play with Nelson and Palmieri on Friday night against the New York Rangers at home. “It was first game with these guys, and I do believe the more he is going to play with them, the more he is going to be comfortable and his game is going to continue to grow with these guys," Roy said.

The Islanders sound committed to Tysplakov in a top-six role to start the season, and as long as he continues the different ways he can help the team win, he's likely to stay there.