LOS ANGELES — The reason for putting together the line he dubbed the Swedish Connection didn’t have much to do with the Swedish part of it for Islanders coach Patrick Roy.
He just thought Pierre Engvall and Simon Holmstrom’s games would fit well together ahead of the Islanders 3-0 loss to the Kings on Monday night.
But maybe there is something in the fact that both grew up in the same hockey ecosystem, since their chemistry has been evident ever since they’ve been put on a line alongside Casey Cizikas.
“I think so,” Holmstrom said before the game. “I think we think the game a little similar as well. With Casey on our line, we get that gritty guy who’s super hard on the forecheck and reliable in the D-zone. It’s been a good matchup for us.”
Holmstrom has not lit up the scoresheet over the six games he’d been with that line going into Monday, recording three assists during that span.
But he has played a far more noticeable game in corners and below the hashes, and his chemistry with Engvall and Cizikas was near instant.
That was particularly evident in Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Ducks, when Holmstrom won a battle in the corner leading to Cizikas’ opening goal. Engvall added a second goal for the line later in the third period.
“Him and Pierre have been clicking really well together,” Roy said of Holmstrom. “But (Sunday), what a play he made on that first goal. Great forecheck, good pressure on their D and throw the puck in front of the net for Casey.
“I love his speed. I feel like more and more, his compete level is improving. That pleases me a lot.”
Matt Martin was a late scratch against the Kings and declared day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Patrick Roy said afterward that Martin was dealing with an issue for “a while” but it flared up Monday to prevent him from playing.
Hudson Fasching skated on Martin’s place on the fourth line, playing his first game since Jan. 25 after missing significant time with a lower-body injury of his own.
“I thought he played well,” Patrick Roy said after Fasching accounted for a shot on net and three more attempts over 10:19 of ice time. “I thought that line did a really good job.”
The Islanders saw old friend Jim Hiller, an assistant coach on Barry Trotz’s staff from 2019-22, on Monday, as Hiller is now the interim head coach for the Kings.
“Jimmy’s a good guy. Loves the game,” Cal Clutterbuck said. “He’s got a good mind for hockey and he was a fun guy to be around. I think that, coupled with his passion and hockey knowledge, they’ve got a good one in him.”
The Kings came into Monday 9-5-1 since Hiller — a first-time head coach — took over for Todd McLellan.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Jimmy as a coach,” Noah Dobson said. “I thought he was great coming in my first couple years. He really helped me a lot, working with the D-men. Happy to see him get the job here in L.A.”