Between 4 p.m. and puck drop on Saturday, Barry Trotz estimated he changed his lineup about four times — a result of the Islanders’ ever-changing COVID-19 situation.
Robin Salo, though, was already firmly in place, having been called up from AHL Bridgeport after Ryan Pulock’s injury earlier in the week. The 23-year-old Finn made his NHL debut against the Flames on Saturday, and with it continued a push for more permanent playing time that started during training camp.
If these next few weeks are an extension of Salo’s tryout, then his effort in Saturday’s 5-2 loss against the Flames was a good start.
Salo’s 21:42 time on ice led the Isles’ skaters. He finished with four blocked shots and good chance-creation numbers — the Islanders outshot Calgary with him on ice and had a positive expected goals rate, per Natural Stat Trick. Salo also played up top on the power play, which improved as the game went on.
“He’s got lots of poise,” Trotz said after the game. “He handles the puck really well, he sees the ice really well. On the power play, he’s got lots of deception but I love the fact that he gets it and he moves it. Gets it and moves it, opens up some lanes.”
Last season, Salo played with Orebro HK in Sweden, scoring 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) in 51 games. The Isles took notice, and wanted the 2017 second-round pick to be in North America this season.
“We know that he’s a good young player,” Trotz said. “We wanted to do the right thing. We had everything from salary cap issues to all that, that sorta got sorted out a little bit. Give him an opportunity to play in North America a little bit.”
Now, Salo has the opportunity to play in the NHL — and there’s no reason to think he can’t stick.
The Islanders have been struggling on defense. Their five-game skid heading into Sunday’s game against Toronto featured four or more goals allowed in each game (though some of those, like the last two Calgary goals on Saturday, came with an empty net).
In Florida, Trotz shuffled the lineup, sitting Noah Dobson and giving Sebastian Aho a chance. But now, with Pulock hurt and Adam Pelech in COVID-19 protocol, the Islanders no longer have the luxury of choice. Salo and Grant Hutton, another Bridgeport product, made their NHL debuts on Saturday, taking the UBS Arena ice for an honorary rookie lap before the rest of the team came out for warm-ups.
“It was unbelievable,” Hutton said after the game. “I’ve been with the organization for about three years now and you always look forward to the first one. So being able to have the first one here, the first game at UBS is a pretty special feeling.”
Added Brock Nelson: “Guys on the back end, Hutts, Robin, first games, I thought they were solid. I thought [they] played well.”
Richard Panik, a nine-year veteran, also impressed in 14:42 time on ice following a call-up, finishing with two shots on goal and an assist on Nelson’s power-play goal.
“I was extremely pleased with all of the players who came up and stepped in,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said before Sunday’s game. “I thought they did an excellent job under the circumstances. And we felt very good about it. They’re right back in it tonight and we’ll get a chance to see them again, but I was extremely pleased.”