Adam Boqvist plays forward again for Islanders

The New York Islanders are continuing to try Adam Boqvist at forward. He played in that position on Monday after Hudson Fasching was sidelined due to illness. This is not the first time Boqvist has played as a forward; he previously centered the fourth line in a game weeks ago when another player was also sick. Boqvist managed to record two assists in a recent game, even though the Islanders lost 4-3 in a shootout against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Islanders coach Patrick Roy praised Boqvist for his enthusiasm and willingness to help the team. He noted that defensemen are often willing to play out of position to support the team's playoff hopes. Roy highlighted that Boqvist only had a short practice before the game but performed well. This game was Boqvist’s return after missing time due to a shoulder injury. He, along with teammates Alexander Romanov and Kyle MacLean, had also been ill recently. The team has been experiencing a wave of sickness. In addition to discussing lineup changes, Roy defended the Islanders' penalty kill performance. He took issue with negative comments about the unit, stating they are performing well since January, ranking eighth in the league with an 81% success rate. He emphasized that while they may have started poorly, their recent form is strong, and they should not be judged solely on season-long statistics.