NHL

Islanders make some changes up front

Not getting a shot for the first eight minutes of a period can make any coach do something drastic. For the Islanders’ Jack Capuano, it made him temporarily go back on his word.

During Thursday’s 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay, the Islanders (3-2-0) opened the second period down a goal and couldn’t get a puck on net until Brian Rolston’s shot with 12:42 remaining.

“We just needed to mix things up,” Capuano told The Post last night as his team prepared for tonight’s game in Sunrise, Fla., against the Panthers (7:30 p.m., MSG Plus, WRHU 88.7 FM). “I moved some people around and we at least started getting to the net.”

Before leaving for the two-game Florida swing, Capuano was concerned about getting scoring from more than just his top line, but was adamant about not changing any combinations. After mixing and matching on Thursday, he now plans to reinsert Blake Comeau into the lineup after two games as a healthy scratch and reestablish a third-line pairing with Josh Bailey and Brian Rolston.

“We’re trying to allow a player to play to his strengths,” Capuano said of moving Comeau into the left-wing position while Rolston, a natural left winger, moves to right. “For Blake, that’s more comfortable and that’s important.

“They all want to contribute, they all want to put up points, and they all want to win. Just as long as they keep working hard, the points will come. I know they will.”

*

Capuano said he does not expect goalie Rick DiPietro (concussion) to play tonight, but the goaltender did participate in a full practice yesterday and is moving along well.

“Ricky’s such a competitor,” Capuano said. “He’s doing everything he can to get back as soon as he can.”

bcyrgalis@nypost.com