Ryan Strome was healthy-scratched Saturday despite being on an early pace for the best season of his NHL career, and the New York Islanders forward was not happy about it.
“It pissed me off,” Strome told reporters Monday. “There’s no other way to put it. You never want to be in that situation. You want to be out there helping your team and you think that you can help your team.
“Yeah, I’m upset. I’m pissed off. But I think I’m a good teammate and I’m happy for the guys last game. Now my job is to come back and help try and get a win. I think it’s an opportunity and another chance to prove yourself and play with a little more fire.”
The 22-year-old Strome has five points (a goal and four assists) through seven games this season, playing mostly on the top line alongside centre John Tavares, but was sent to the press box for Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in favour of right wing Steve Bernier.
Strome, the Isles’ first-round pick in 2011, is a natural centre skating on the wing this season.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano also scratched defenceman Marek Zidlicky Saturday, snapping the defenceman’s consecutive starts streak at 142.
Both Zidlicky and Strome will draw back in for Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames.
“Obviously he’s produced points for us, but going into St. Louis we wanted to change the lines up a little bit and in back-to-back games we wanted to get Bernier in there as well,” Capuano told reporters of Strome.
“I had a good talk with Ryan. He’s still a young player so he’ll be fine.”
