OTTAWA, Ontario — The flashes of skill have been apparent through Max Shabanov’s first week of games in the NHL.

The Russian winger scored on his first shot with the Islanders , and has gotten close a few more times, more than once on daring plays that have drawn appreciation from the home crowd.

In between those chances, however, Shabanov has looked like someone in the midst of adjusting to the NHL, going stretches without impacting games and occasionally struggling.

“It’s a big league,” Shabanov said Thursday morning. “Physical league. … Need to score it and help the team win.” 3

Shabanov has gotten some power-play minutes while playing mostly on the third line. Advanced metrics show the Islanders have often been out-chanced during his five-on-five minutes.

Coach Patrick Roy,

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