Islanders happy with Max Shabanov’s progress

OTTAWA, Ontario — The flashes of skill have been apparent through Max Shabanov’s first week of games in the NHL.

The Russian winger scored on his first shot with the Islanders, and has gotten close a few more times, more than once on daring plays that have drawn appreciation from the home crowd.

In between those chances, however, Shabanov has looked like someone in the midst of adjusting to the NHL, going stretches without impacting games and occasionally struggling.

“It’s a big league,” Shabanov said Thursday morning. “Physical league. … Need to score it and help the team win.”

Shabanov has gotten some power-play minutes while playing mostly on the third line. Advanced metrics show the Islanders have often been out-chanced during his five-on-five minutes.

Coach Patrick Roy, though, said he’s been happy with Shabanov’s progress. The Islanders coach was particularly impressed during training camp with Shabanov’s commitment in the defensive zone, noting that Shabanov waited outside his office one day to ask him questions about it.

“I just feel like every game he seems to be more comfortable on the ice,” Roy said. “More confident. He’s moving that puck very well. The moves he made against, let’s say, Washington [last Saturday]. … I’m very surprised to see how well he’s playing defensively as well. That’s a pleasant surprise.”

Alexander Romanov did not practice Friday because of maintenance. Roy indicated he would be a game-time decision Saturday, with the Islanders likely to make the call after warmups.

If Romanov does not play, Adam Boqvist would likely draw into the lineup for the first time this season.

David Rittich’s strong performance in nets Thursday did not change the Islanders’ plan to have Ilya Sorokin start Saturday’s game.

“One save at a time,” Roy said of his expectation for Sorokin, who struggled through his first three starts. “That’s it. Just build one save at a time. That’s what I’ve been doing. If I feel I wasn’t playing my best hockey, I wouldn’t have tried to go more than one save at a time.”

According to team statistician Eric Hornick, Bo Horvat is the first Islander to score a power play goal, shorthanded goal and even strength goal in the same game since Patrick Flatley on Feb. 1, 1994. Bob Bourne, on March 13, 1984, also completed the same feat.