Islanders’ road success a byproduct of keeping it simple

DETROIT — The road has been mostly kind to the Islanders of late.

They entered Thursday night’s match against the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena having won three of four on the road after starting this quick two-game trip with a 3-2 overtime win in Dallas on Monday night.

The lone blemish came with a 4-0 defeat in St. Louis on Feb. 22.

However, the Islanders will go into Saturday night’s game against the Bruins at UBS Arena having lost four straight home games, including a 6-5 overtime defeat to the Rangers at MetLife Stadium.

What’s the difference?

“I haven’t thought about it,” Cal Clutterbuck said. “Sometimes on the road your mentality can be a little more about sticking with it. It’s probably an expectation difference. Everyone expects you to play better at home and win more at home. And when you go through stretches where you’re not winning at home, it can feel like there’s extra pressure. I don’t know that we feel that way. I’m just theorizing.”

Coach Patrick Roy believes that could be the case.

“The big difference is when you’re on the road you keep things a little more simple,” Roy said. “At home, you feel like you want to do more for your fans and that’s something we’ll address when we go home on Saturday against Boston.”

Isles files

Right wing Oliver Wahlstrom remained the healthy scratch . . . Forward Hudson Fasching (long-term injured reserve/lower body) ended his conditioning stint with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport with a goal in three games . . . Defenseman Samuel Bolduc remains with Bridgeport on a conditioning assignment and also has a goal in three games . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield (lower body) missed his third game and the team issued no update on his status . . . Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (LTIR/ankle), out since Jan. 4, still has yet to resume skating.