Late in the game against the Utah Hockey Club, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy elected to make a line swap. With the way Maxim Tsyplakov has been playing and Anthony Duclair's struggles to get to his game since returning from a long-term lower-body injury,

This summer, general manager Lou Lamoriello went out and signed speedster Anthony Ducliar, Roy's former player with the Quebec Remparts in juniors, to a four-year deal at $2.5 million annually. The plan was for Duclair to bring that speed and, potentially, the missing piece to a Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal 's line.

Bo Hovart scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway 3:10 into overtime and the New York Islanders snapped a three-game skid with a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins.

In the eight games after Duclair's return he has one goal and two assists, but has gone four games without a point.

- With a goal and two assists on Sunday, Pulock recorded his first three-point game since Nov. 26 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Pulock is second among Isles d-men with 15 points (2G, 13A), second behind only Noah Dobson’s 20 points.

EAST MEADOW, NY- The New York Islanders (17-18-7) have returned home after sweeping their three-game road trip and officially beginning what could be their final run together in this group for a playoff spot.

Okay, I know that headline is crazy. The New York Islanders (15-18-7), currently 15th in the Eastern Conference and 27th in the NHL do not look like a good bet to catch fire and make the playoffs.

The New York Islanders suffered their second straight loss, falling 5-3 at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at UBS Arena. Bo Horvat (PPG), Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee (PPG) scored for the Islanders,