Lamoriello loving Isles’ ‘progress’ so far this year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lou Lamoriello’s review of the Islanders season thus far might be best described as cautiously optimistic.

“We’re certainly pleased with the progress that we’ve made,” Lamoriello said Thursday morning as the Islanders skated ahead of their 5-4 loss to the Predators. “But this is a tough league. You have to be ready each and every night, and that’s all we’re doing is focusing on getting prepared the best way we possibly can.”

With the quarter mark of the season creeping up, the Islanders have played above the expectations of most prognosticators, coming into Thursday in second place in the Metropolitan Division after a disappointing 2021-22. Lamoriello kept most of his roster intact during the offseason, with the only major change being the addition of defenseman Alexander Romanov via trade. The forward group, which struggled last season, remained intact.

So far, that’s working on both ends. The Isles went into Thursday ranked 12th in per-game scoring and fifth in per-game defense under new coach Lane Lambert, who has implemented a more liberal system than predecessor Barry Trotz.

“We had confidence in [the forwards],” Lamoriello said. “Right now, we’re getting the goals that we needed to be getting, so we’re pleased at this point, certainly.”

“I think we’re playing quicker,” fourth-liner Cal Clutterbuck said. “I think we’re pretty resilient.”

Hiring Lambert ended up being the highest-profile move of the offseason for the Islanders, who also revamped their assistant coaching staff with Lamoriello acolyte John MacLean and former Detroit assistant Doug Houda.

“Preparation is exceptional,” Lamoriello said of the coaching staff. “All of them have won, they know exactly what it takes to win. Each one has won a Stanley Cup.”

➤ Josh Bailey was a healthy scratch for the second straight game, with Ross Johnston again starting on the third line alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri. According to Lambert, the decision was specific to the opponent, with the Predators being a heavy team.

“Josh is a huge part of our team going forward,” Lambert said pregame. “Huge part of the leadership group. Sometimes there are certain decisions that happen. Players have to deal with it and we deal with it, but he’s a huge part of our team moving forward.”

Johnston sat the game’s final 30 minutes. Lambert said that was to get more offense, with the Islanders trailing.