New York Islanders’ Simon Holmstrom looks to pass the puck during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — Since his preseason preparations at rookie camp started last month, New York Islanders winger Simon Holmstrom has been told by his coaching staff to shoot the puck more.
The 22-year-old winger possesses a plus shot. He showed flashes of it last season but was trigger-shy or inaccurate in a rookie campaign that featured just three goals in 50 games. Winning a roster spot from rookie camp, he was given a chance to start the season on the right wing of the first line alongside center Bo Horvat and winger Mathew Barzal. While he played a sound defensive game and created in the neutral zone, he still wasn’t shooting. In his first three games, he put just one shot on goal.
“With him not shooting the puck early in the season on that top line, I think he was trying to make some plays,” head coach Lane Lambert said. “When you’re playing on that line or when you’re playing on any line and you have that shot you possess like he has, you have to use it no matter what happens.”
It was why Lambert has continuously implored Holmstrom to let it rip when he has the chance — jumping on that narrative after New York’s opening-night win over the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 14 and making sure it’s engrained in the young forward’s head.
“I agree with him and I’ve been looking at the film the last couple games and just trying to figure out where I can get the shot off,” Holmstrom said. “And I think last game was a good step up for that.”
On Tuesday night, he was moved to the third line where he spent most of the night alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Cal Clutterbuck where he showed much better results. Holmstrom fired his first goal of the season with that highly-touted wrister in the second period while…
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