NY Islanders Star of the Week: Pierre Engvall fits right in

Throughout the week of March 12, the NY Islanders played three games. After losing their first to the Los Angeles Kings, they would win the next two to end the week on a high note. Even in the loss, one thing remained constant the whole week, the Islanders needed to find someone to depend on with their star center, Mat Barzal, remaining sidelined, and that someone would be Engvall.

In the first game of the week against the Kings, the Islanders would not play their best hockey as they fell to Los Angeles in California, 5-2. This was not a pretty game, at all, and was a rough start to their west coast road trip. However, Engvall would get the Islanders on the board with about eight minutes left in the first period. The only other goal in this game would come late in the second period by JG Pageau.

On Wednesday the Islanders would remain in California and have a much better time as they took the ice against the Anaheim Ducks. The Islanders would dominate the Ducks from the start of the game to the end. Engvall would find Kyle Palmieri, for the first goal of the game to tie the game at 1 midway through the first period. Goals by Hudson Fasching and Brock Nelson would put the Islanders ahead, 3-2.

In the early going of the third period, Engvall would find the back of the net to put the Islanders ahead, 4-2. Nelson and Zach Parise would find the net to put the Islanders ahead 6-3. Engvall's goal would also mark the game-winning goal as the Islanders would hold on to defeat the Ducks, 6-3.

On Saturday, the Islanders would remain on the west coast as they traveled to take on the San Jose Sharks. The Islanders would have another dominant performance on the ice, in all assets of the game. Pageau picked up the Islanders' first goal at the end of the first period while the Islanders were short-handed.

After a goal by Palmieri, Engvall would pick up his first point of the night on an assist to Ryan Pulock on the powerplay. The final goal would come at the hands of Parise who had a solid week in his own right. The Islanders would finish this game by defeating the Sharks, by a final score of 4-1.

After a good week for the Islanders, they continued to maintain their position in the wildcard. As of this writing, they are holding onto the first wildcard spot over the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins who are right at their heels, and teams like Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres not too far behind.

""He's moving his feet, he's a tough guy to take the puck off of and when you see him and the speed he carries through the neutral zone, he's doing everything," Palmieri said. "Hopefully he just continues to get better every game and our line continues give our team a positive impact.""

Kyle Palmieri on Pierre Engvall

Engvall played an integral part in the Islanders' success last week, and he should be recognized for doing just that. Fans were skeptical when the Islanders first traded for him, but Engvall has played great hockey since being a member of the Islanders and has done a good job at holding the Islanders in a good spot until Barzal returns.