What happened: The New York Islanders defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Thursday while debuting a new defensive alignment. Following Alexander Romanov's season-ending ACL tear, coach Pete DeBoer moved Logan Stanley to the top pair alongside Matthew Schaefer. Scott Mayfield also entered the lineup on the third pairing with Tony Deangelo.

Why it matters: The reshuffle marks the beginning of New York's attempt to DeBoer noted the pairings remain fluid, but keeping Schaefer on the right helps balance the team's lefty-heavy defensive prospect pool. The new look provides an immediate opportunity for Mayfield, who had been a healthy scratch.

What to watch: DeBoer will continue evaluating the defensive combinations, with Isaiah George and Kashawn Aitcheson remaining options in AHL Hamilton should the need arise.