What’s bigger
news than Matt Duchene finally being traded last night after only 3 shifts on
the ice in Brooklyn to a team that’s not the Rangers? I would say that our New
York Islanders have been winning games. They are currently 4th in the eastern
conference (8-5-1 with 17 points) and two points out of first place with two
games at hand. After a decent, but mostly lackluster start, struggles to score,
hold leads, apply pressure, tighten up defensively and a PP that was a dismal 0-20,
New York put a few things in line to start their trend towards the top of their
division. They’ve also been impressive in some problem areas and have showcased
some big-time performances by Vets and Young Guns along the way. Tonight,
I want to share my 5 keys to the Isles latest surge and talk about the assets
that have finally clicked all at once helping to aid the surge.
John Tavares: When asked once again about a contract extension, the trade deadline and the
chances of relocating, he answered the same way he always does. “Not from my
standpoint,’’ he said. “I don’t expect to be traded or want to be traded. I
want to play here. That’s my goal, it hasn’t changed . . . I’m here as an Islander,
really enjoy being the captain and try to give these guys everything every
day.’’ Tavares had a slow start, but has come on to lead by example as expected
with 18 points (12 & 6 with a +3 rating, a 25% S% and a 50% rating in
the FO circle) in 14 games.
Mathew
Barzal: Mathew Barzal has 13 points in
last 9 games and is the first Isles rookie to score five points in a single
game since John Tavares (2-3-5) did it on Mar. 16, 2010. Barzal had 5 assists
against the Avalanche last night and it was the first time an Islanders player accomplished
that feat since LaFontaine did it in 1990. Per Eric Hornick, Barzal “is the
first Isles rookie in at least 30 years to have 13 points in the first 14 games
of a season.” Barzal also now has a 5-game point streak (2-8-10). Barzal spoke
to reporters after last night’s win. "It's
a pretty cool thing to do," Barzal said. "I'm growing more confident
every day and nights like tonight don't really hurt. I'm just trying to fit in
and make an impact." Barzal continues to be a standout rookie and
asset for New York. I forgot to remind everyone that Avs GM, Joe Sakic wanted Hamonic, Barzal, Sorokin and a 1st for Duchene.
Coaching Staff: Per Eric Hornick, “Doug Weight is now 32-17-5
as an NHL coach. On October 28 in Nashville, he reached 30 wins faster than any
coach in Islander history.” His new look staff has the Isles keeping it
together and starting to make some significant noise in the east. Whether it’s shuffling lines, working on face-offs, special teams (PP 8th at
22.4% and PK 13th at 81.3%) or just pushing for his players to play a more
disciplined game that had been lacking before, Weight has made a difference after taking over as coach & doesn’t hesitate to call them out as a group and make the difficult choices to
support what he wants from his team on the ice. Demoting Josh Ho-Sang was not a
popular move among fans, but Ho-Sang has 5 points in 5 games (2 & 3) with
the Tigers and is a +2. Exactly what he needed to work on and he has responded
so far. The Islanders have gone 3-2 since Ho-Sang was sent down and the turn
overs continue, but they have played better as a unit and their PP has vastly
improved. But they still have some major challenges to work on. The goal-tending could be better overall and if they could just buckle down on a league high 6 SHGs
(4 for Halak and 2 for Greiss) surrendered and 4th worst 0.5 takeaway/giveaway
rating.
Offensive Depth
with a newly effective Power Play: The Islanders are 3rd in the NHL for goal
scoring (54), scored in 17 straight periods and the 3rd has been the
most impressive for New York, with 16 goals for in their last 7 games. The offensive
attack has been varied and balanced. Tavares and Bailey have 18 points, Lee (50%
FO%) and Barzal (48% FO%) with 13 and Eberle, 11 and Nick Leddy has 10 after just
14 games. Josh Bailey (3 & 15 for 18 pts) is on pace for another huge
season. Bailey was named 2nd star of the week (1st time being named an
NHL star in career) and is riding an NHL high 9 game point scoring streak. Josh
Bailey is the first Islander with 15 assists (currently 2nd in NHL) in
the first 14 games in the last 30+ seasons; he now has 3 consecutive
multi-assist games and has tallied 11 assists in the last five games. –
Hornick. Per Arthur Staple, “Since the start of 2016-17, Josh Bailey has 56
assists. Only 10 players have more — McDavid, Backstrom, Karlsson, P. Kane
among them.” As a team, the Isles have scored 6 goals for the third time in 4
games. More importantly, it appears they have finally found their PP touch.
“The Isles' power play scored on both of their opportunities and is now 9-16
(56.3%) in the last four games after starting the season 2-33 … They are 5-1-0
when they score at least one power play goal and 3-4-1 when they dont.
The Isles are 5-2-0 when they allow at least one power play goal and 3-3-1 when
they do not.” – Hornick. They have scored 2 PPG in each of their last 4
games. Wow. I pinned the success of the team on the PP this year. Lets hope this is for real. And maybe they can find a way to win a few more face-offs throughout the line up.
Home Ice
Advantage: Despite the constant complaints about the poor ice at the Barclays
Center, wavering attendance and enough off-ice Arena uncertainty to make most
fans crazy, Our New York Islanders are 52-23-13 (5-0-1 so far, this season) since
moving to Brooklyn at the start of the 2015-16 season. After last night’s “mostly”
thrilling win against the Avalanche, The Isles hold a 25-5-4 record against
western teams who come to Brooklyn and the Organization still can’t wait to leave. Long standing
rumors have the John Tavares extension based on a
stable relocation that includes a custom-built NHL compatible arena, in which
the Islanders would be able to hang their many proud banners. There is no
official time table for the Belmont approval, but Isles co-owner John Ledecky
has set his sights there and nowhere else. After a $7M upgrade to their
practice facility, Ledecky and Isles brass have started an infrastructure to
make the Isles a first-class organization that will attract fans and free
agents alike.
The Isles face
Edmonton at home on Tuesday at 7 pm in front of the New York Isles faithful.
Advantage:
Islanders.
Isles Notes:
Shane Prince
practiced with the Isles today.
VGK, Griffin
Reinhart was put on waivers 10/29. Reinhart trade turned into Mathew Barzal and
Anthony Beauvillier for garth Snow and the Islanders.
Per @Zeb_Habs,
“Linus Söderström, Isles goalie prospect gets the nod for the National team in
the Karjala Cup tournament.”
Former Isles
Captain, Mark Streit announced his retirement on Oct.30th and is returning to
Switzerland.
The BOAHC,
@Section_329 need your support: It's time once again for their annual food
drive, from now until 11/19. A collection to donate to those in need will take
place at any Isles home games. Go to section 228/229, to any of their posted
viewing parties or contact Craig Richardson, James Francis Fess or Tom Ballantyne
for more details. #BOAFoodDrive
NHL Notes:
Calgary Flames
place Travis Hamonic on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 2.
Sound Tigers
Notes:
“Sebastian
Aho scored four times last weekend and goaltenders Christopher Gibson and Kristers
Gudlevskis each recorded a shutout as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
(6-5-0-0), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, swept a three-game
series against the Providence Bruins and Springfield Thunderbirds.
The Sound Tigers
outscored their opponents 10-2 over the weekend, including Aho's three-goal
performance on Sunday, which put the 21-year-old into Bridgeport's record books
as the first Sound Tigers defenseman to ever record a hat trick. It was also
the first time Bridgeport has registered a hat trick against the Bruins and
team's first overall since Alan Quine did it on April 2, 2016.”
Per Christian Arnold, Islanders Insight, "NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING BETWEEN SOUND
TIGERS AND CITY OF BRIDGEPORT."
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