Maxim Tsyplakov #7 of the New York Islanders on the ice against the Jets. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

A year ago, Max Tsyplakov started out in the top six for the Islanders. Over the course of the season, his standing in the lineup slowly went downhill.

By March, he was on the fourth line, fighting for minutes amid head coach Patrick Roy’s exhortations to be more responsible with the puck, frustrated that the scoring touch that came so easily in the KHL was not translating to North American ice.

Tsyplakov now is looking to do the same, only in reverse. He started this season on the fourth line and has already been healthy-scratched six times, including four straight games before getting back in the mix for Saturday’s 5-0 win against the Rangers. The goal, eventually, is to work his wa

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