Ondrej Palat is not filling the Islanders’ scoring gaps, and that is fine. What he did on Saturday night against the Maple Leafs proves he still has game left in him. The 35-year-old forward had arguably his best performance since joining the team, even though he did not make it onto the scoresheet. This shift in mindset is exactly what New York needed to survive a rough start to the season.
Palat played just 13 minutes and one second, yet the impact was massive. An absurd 19-1 margin saw the Islanders out-attempt Toronto during that brief period, per reports. That is not luck. That is a player who knows his role and executes it with precision. Coach Pete DeBoer did not hold back when praising the forward’s recent work ethic.
DeBoer sees a player with something to prove
The head coach knows Palat wants more minutes and is eager to prove his worth. DeBoer said, according to the New York Post, “He’s been great all year.” He added that the veteran came back with a clear desire to show what he can do. The coach believes Palat has been engaged since training camp started and is ready to go. If anything, DeBoer feels the burden is on him to give Palat even more ice time than the player has received so far.
This timing could not be better. The Islanders already face a shortage of bodies up front. Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli both left Saturday night’s game with lower-body injuries and did not return. If those two miss time, Palat is the obvious choice to move up the lineup. He is already playing on the fourth line for six of the eight games so far, but his two-way play makes him a positive force everywhere.
Teammates notice the change in shape
Teammates saw the difference before the puck even dropped. Kyle Palmieri noticed Palat was in “great shape” when camp started, something the veteran credited to changes in his offseason routine. Palmieri watched Palat play in Tampa and during his years in New Jersey, so he knows what to expect. He said, “I know what kind of an impact play he can make. I watched firsthand what he was like in Tampa. Saw his years in Jersey. I thought he’s a guy you always see on the ice, you always notice.”
Palmieri believes the whole group benefits from this level of effort. “We all knew he had game left in him,” Palmieri said. He stated that Palat arrived at camp with a clear mind and was prepared to play. “It’s awesome to see.” The forward’s forechecking and defensive responsibility are helping the team win games even without the points.
In the 4-1 victory, Palat arguably played his best game as an Islander, though he did not appear on the scoresheet.
