Kyle MacLean has patiently waited the season’s first three weeks to get into the Islanders lineup. Tuesday night time against Anaheim his likelihood came with the Islanders needing reinforcement following accidents to Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli.
“I’m just excited to get going,” MacLean instructed The Post before the 3-2 win. “I feel like I’ve been working, staying patient. Never like to see injuries, but definitely excited for this opportunity and looking forward to being in the lineup.”
MacLean and Mitchell Chaffee both performed their first video games of the season — Chaffee having been called up on an emergency foundation from AHL Hamilton on Monday — as the Islanders rostered just 12 wholesome forwards.
Kyle MacLean checks Tyson Hinds into the boards during the Islanders’ 3-2 win over the Ducks on Oct. 20, 2026 at UBS Arena. Getty Images
“I thought they did a great job,” DeBoer said of the pair, which fashioned either aspect of a fourth line centered by Casey Cizikas. “I didn’t have to hide them. They had some shifts against their big guys. I thought they gave us energy, they gave us some physicality. Some really good puck-possession shifts, especially in the third period.”
The trio resembles a more conventional fourth line than the Islanders have gone with for much of the season, but the presumed straight-line and defensive type of hockey they’ll play is doubtless to run counter to coach Pete DeBoer’s desire that all 4 traces contribute scoring.
Chaffee does have a bit more scoring in his historical past, with 12 targets for the Lightning in 2024-25 and point-per-game manufacturing in the AHL, but he struggled in an 11-game stint with Tampa last season.
Still, a workmanlike fourth line has its makes use of.
MacLean, at his most efficient, suits properly alongside Cizikas, bringing a related mindset and puck retrieval potential. Chaffee seems to have related qualities as properly.
“He’s a good worker. He’s a strong player too and he’s got a really good shot — he’s pretty lethal when he gets it off,” MacLean said of Chaffee. “I think what we saw [in training camp] is he’s a good worker. I think he’s gonna complement Casey great. Be good on the forecheck, be hard on pucks and he’s got a good, sneaky shot too.”
DeBoer said the Islanders are dealing with “ambiguity” around Mat Barzal’s restoration when requested whether something had occurred to change what was optimistic framing by the membership around his return a month in the past.
“I just think injuries are different. If you have a broken bone, it’s a really clear timeline: 4-6 weeks or whatever it is,” DeBoer said. “I think with what he’s dealing with, there’s more ambiguity. And I think that’s what you’re seeing, and that’s what we’re dealing with.”
When DeBoer was requested a follow-up, a workforce spokesman said Mathieu Darche would quickly be made obtainable to communicate on Barzal’s harm.
Source hyperlink
