ST. LOUIS — Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau were watching tape a few days ago and noticed a clip of Simon Holmstrom on the forecheck.
The winger, who plays with Lee and Pageau on the third line, was getting in on the forecheck and playing physical hockey, the sort that isn’t generally considered part of his game.
It’s not the first time his linemates have noticed a little more oomph in Holmstrom to start the season.
“That’s an aspect of the game he’s continued to grow with,” Lee told The Post. “One he doesn’t have to rely on, but when he adds it in there, we get pucks back, his ability — even if it is just get in [the opposing player’s] way and poke the puck, that helped turn our goal in the other night [against Colorado] with him just getting in the way there. His game’s just continuing to grow, he’s getting stronger and I think his confidence is doing well.”
Holmstrom picked up the primary assist on Lee’s goal Monday night in Denver, his second of the season.
The Swede is starting his third year in the NHL and it’s still a little bit of an open question what sort of player he’ll be.
The Islanders have mostly used Holmstrom in the bottom six, but given him the occasional chance higher up the lineup and emphasized the 23-year-old’s offensive potential.
It was, though, his defensive awareness that first allowed him to stick in an NHL lineup.
So far this season, it’s been the physical, defensive side of his game that’s stuck out most to those who watch him every day.
“Physicality can be seen, not only with a big hit but using his body way more,” Pageau told The Post before the Islanders faced the Blues on Thursday. “Protecting the puck or if there’s a battle, putting his body in front first. He’s a big kid, big ass, he’s gotta use those big legs and I think he’s using those more to his advantage now. I don’t know if it’s with experience or confidence, but I feel like he’s winning a lot of battles like that.”
Pageau brought up faceoffs as an example, noting that Holmstrom has been “winning me a lot of draws” by getting after the puck in ways he may not have in the past.
“I think we’ve all known him as more of a good hockey IQ, good skill [player], making some good plays with his passing game” Pageau said. “But I think it adds another element to his game that he’s showing up, that he plays this way, wins battles, plays physical this way.”
He’s not throwing open-ice hits that change a game — Holmstrom has been credited with just two hits so far this season — but a more subtle shift in how he approaches every shift.
Holmstrom said that hasn’t been a conscious effort on his part and he hadn’t been trying to play a more physical brand of hockey, but would happily take the compliment.
“You’re always gonna want to get stronger and faster and all that,” Holmstrom told The Post. “… I think when you compete hard out there and battle hard, it comes naturally, as well.”
Heading into the season’s fourth game against St. Louis on Thursday, the third line had scored just one goal, but limited the opposition to three high-danger chances over 26:04 total, per Natural Stat Trick.
“We haven’t really put the puck in the net yet, I think that’s the last step for us,” Holmstrom said. “I think we played really solid defensively, as well. I don’t think we had a lot of scoring chances against us, either. I think we just gotta keep doing and keep growing, as well.”