Isles Day-to-Day: Practice Update 3/17

The Islanders tried out a pair of new-look lines on Saturday, as John Tavares skated with Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle while Anthony Beauvillier centered Anders Lee and Josh Bailey.
The Tavares-Barzal-Eberle line got a few reps in together in Friday's loss in Washington, coming together after the Islanders found themselves down two forwards. Head Coach Doug Weight said he wants to see more of what the line - which pairs the Islanders top two forwards in Barzal and Tavares - can do.

"They had some good looks and seemed to bring some life to the team a little bit," Weight said. "It's an experiment and if nothing else moving forward get them some experience together."
With Tavares and Barzal both being natural centers, Tavares shifted to the left wing at Saturday's practice. Tavares has some experience playing on the wing, namely during the 2012 lockout and on the 2014 Canadian Olympic team.
"It's not my natural position, but I've played it before. I've got a lot of versatility with my game to begin with," Tavares said.

The Islanders captain said he's also comfortable playing with the free-wheeling Barzal.
"I have a good sense of his game now, I obviously know him for close to a full season and have played with him on the power play," Tavares said. "I have a sense of what makes him really good, dynamic and be able to make plays, so just read off it, make plays myself and capitalize on our chances."
Beauvillier will shift back to his natural position as he becomes the pivot between Lee and Bailey. Beauvillier has largely played left wing this season for the Islanders
"He's done a lot of good things this year since coming back," Weight said of Beauvillier. "He's got the ability at a young age to either play in the middle or the wing and make some people better around him and coulee be a good compliment with that speed with Anders and Bails."

CLUTTERBUCK PRACTICES:

After missing the third period of Friday's game in Washington with a migraine, Cal Clutterbuck was back on the ice for Saturday's practice. The Islanders forward said he's suffered from migraines since his early 20's and that they flair up a couple of times a season, hampering his vision. Clutterbuck said it subsided after a few hours.

GREISS UPDATE:

Thomas Greiss also participated in Saturday's practice, his first practice with the team since suffering a lower-body injury against the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 16. Weight said he expects Greiss and Alan Quine to both be more involved in practices this week and that Scott Mayfield will return to practice shortly after.

HALAK LIKELY FOR SUNDAY:

Weight said he's leaning towards starting Jaroslav Halak on Sunday, but hadn't settled on a decision.

AHO IN:

Sebastian Aho will draw in the lineup for Brandon Davidson, who is a little banged up according to Weight. Aho will be back in the lineup for the first time since March 2.