Hickey Hitting His Stride

Thomas Hickey is going to have a pretty nice hit reel by the end of his NHL career.
He made waves when he laid out Jonathan Drouin back in the 2016 playoffs and toppled Zdeno Chara earlier this season. And while he's not a freight train at 6'0, 188 lbs., he caught Milan Lucic (6'3, 236 lbs.) in his tracks on Thursday night in Edmonton.
"I take a lot of hits to get the puck out and start a breakout, but when I get the opportunity you have to pay those guys back a little bit too," Hickey said on Saturday.

Hickey had a pretty complete stat line on Thursday, roofing a backhand for his fourth goal of the season, with three hits and two blocks in 20:24 TOI. He does a little bit of everything for the Islanders and despite being on the smaller side, there might not be an Islander who gets more out of his body.
"Pound for pound, probably not," Ryan Pulock, Hickey's d-partner, said. "He's blocking shots, stepping into guys that are twice his size and strong on pucks. He doesn't lose too many battles."

Head Coach Doug Weight had a colorful analogy after the team's practice in Banff.
"He's like when the tank is on empty and then it's way on empty," Weight said. "He leaves it out there. He gives you everything he has."
Both commented on how hard Hickey plays in the corners and his willingness to block a shot - his 82 blocks are fourth on the team - and how he's willing to take a hit to make a play.
"I always tell Tommy that every once in a while you can jab the puck and get out of the way of a hit," Weight added. "They take a beating, but they don't care and they give it out. You saw Thomas step into 235 pound Milan Lucic last game. He plays the game the right way."

Hickey has 20 points (4G, 16A) in 55 games this season, matching his point total from last year. He's two points shy of matching his career high and has four points (1G, 3A) in his last five games and seven (2G, 5A) in his last 10. He could set a new career high before season's end and feels his all-around game has gotten better.
"Every year in the league I get a little more mobile and a better skater and that's part of growing up a little bit," Hickey said. "I'm playing confident and playing well. [The points] been going in at a good pace right now."
"The start of the season was difficult, coming out of the lineup a little bit, but since I've played a consistent role and in those minutes I've been able to produce," Hickey added. "I think Pulie's been another reason for that. We have some good chemistry and move the puck well and I think he plays a big part into my success."
Hickey and Pulock have played a majority of the season together and are settling into a groove with each other. Pulock has 21 points (6G, 15A) playing alongside Hickey this season.

"You just learn each other's tendencies and we have a good feel for each other and what we're going to do," Pulock said. "He plays a simple game, makes a good first pass out of the zone and I think that just makes it easy for me to get up the ice a bit and do what I can do."
When the Islanders play at the Saddledome on Sunday, it'll be a home game of sorts for Hickey, who is a Calgary native. After six seasons and 395 games with the Islanders it's not the event that it was for Mathew Barzal's first game in Vancouver, but it's still a fun one to play in. Usually these games give players some extra jump, but according to Weight, Hickey's already leaving it all out there every game.
"He's honest and he's going to give everything he has," Weight said. "He's fun to coach."