After 10 games,
our New York Islanders are 5-4-1 with 11 points. That’s good enough for 11th in
the eastern conference. While that’s nothing to get excited about, there
have been a few nice positives to go along with a modest amount of outward
successes. The key to this season story has been and will continue to be
opportunity for the players on the roster who hold themselves accountable.
Bridgeport is stocked with some quality prospects who are eager to make their
case. Maybe a Devon Toews (6 points in 9 games) or even a resurgent Michael Dal
Colle (8 points in 7 games) getting a call up if the opportunity presents itself?
Isles have a +5
differential in goals. That’s 7th best in the east. Their goals against was the worst in the league last season is currently the 3rd best in east (4th overall) of the
young season. Goaltending was the biggest question mark coming in. The
additions of Mitch Korn and Piero Greco to the goaltending staff have paid
dividends for the tandem of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss. Lehner has been the choice for early starter
based on his net gains for the Isles. In 6 games, Lehner is 3-2-0-1 with a 2.36
gaa and a .929Sv% with a shutout. Under his new coaching staff, Lehner has
looked calm and positionally sound, using his size and quickness to keep
himself in most of the oppositions scoring chances. Thomas Greiss struggled
last season in just 27 games due to injury but has also worked hard this year and
is improving his game. Greiss
just notched his 100th career win (64 with the Islanders) against Carolina last
night and has posted a 2-2-0 record in 5 games with 2.20 gaa and a .934Sv% so
far.
The play of the
netminders has been pretty good behind a defense that has had a few hiccups but seems to be getting better as the time goes on. The team’s goals against
under the watch of Barry Trotz has improved to 25. That’s 8 fewer than this time last season. A tie for 2nd best (Montreal) behind the
Devils with 20. The PK is 12th in the league and was 6 for 6 this weekend, helping the team earn points in 3 straight games. Scott Mayfield has
gone from scratch to a difference maker on defense and has even scored 5 points
in 10 games and a +5 rating. Andrew Gross said of Trotz, Mayfield is probably
the biggest surprise for him this season. I’m not surprised. Always sung his
praises. Thomas Hickey leads the team with a +7 rating on an improving Isles
blue line. Ryan Pulock just notched his 1st goal (2 pts) and looks more
comfortable with each shift. His presence on the Isles PP seems like a force in
the making.
The Isles have
had a few struggles offensively. They rank near the bottom in crucial faceoff
statistics (30th), less than a percent ahead of the league worst Colorado
Avalanche and ranked at a dismal 29th in shots for per game. Their PP is a
respectable 13th and they are near the middle of the NHL with 3 goals (12th in
east) per game, but they need to offer scoring support throughout the line-up
if they want to improve. These are trends that will challenge their ability to
win consistently. Erick Hornick has the Isles at 5-0-1 when scoring first and
0-4-0 when they allow the opening goal.
They’ve had a few players step up on offense. 2017-18
Calder winner, Matt Barzal has 10 points in 10 games, but is having a
tough time scoring goals. With more focus by the opposition and consistently
drawing top d-pairings, Barzal should relish the opportunity to turn the tables
back in his favor soon enough. Josh Bailey, Anders Lee (11 pts), Brock Nelson (6) and
dare I say, Valtteri Filppula (6) have made some serious noise for the Isles
offensively. Per Erick Hornick, “Josh Bailey extended his point streak to five
games with his third multi-point game of the season.” Andrew Ladd and Casey
Cizikas (+5 rating) have made an impact as well as tallying 5 points in 7 and 9
games while Nelson (5), Filppula and Lee (4) lead the team in goals. Anders Lee
has stepped up into the role of Captain to the delight of his coaches and reaffirmed
the respect of his team mates. He was already a tough, gritty scorer who did
whatever he could do to help the team succeed before and it’s even more
noticeable now with 4 pp goals and a +4 rating. According to NHL PR, “Anders
Lee (4-7—11) continues his career-best start to the season, becoming the first @NYIslanders player to record at
least 11 points in the opening 10 games since John Tavares in 2015-16.”
Another crazy
stat is shooting percentage and who leads the team. How about Filppula (I know,
right?) at 50%, Brock Nelson at 24% and Casey Cizikas at 24%. Oh, and Lamoriello’s
guy Leo Komarov has 4 points in 10 games with a +1 and is tied with Matt Martin
for just over an 18% shooting percentage.
Still plenty to
prove and much more work to do, but signs are showing the team is improving in problem areas under the new management and coaching staff. Consistency is
still the magic word while accountability is the key to opportunity. Let’s see
if it continues and what the roster looks and plays like 10 games from now.
Isles Notes:
Islanders and Sound Tigers honor Charles Wang with memorial tribute patch.
Per Eric
Hornick, “The Isles have won four of their first seven road games for the first
time since 2014-15 and have won four October road games for the first time
since 2001-02 (6-0-0)…The Isles have won their last five Metro games (going
back to last season) and are 3-0-0 in divisional play to start a season for the
first time since 2014-15…With the win, the Isles moved within one point of
Columbus/Washington for the final playoff spot.”
Islanders announced
the game on February 28, 2019, against the Toronto Maple Leafs has been relocated
from Barclays Center in Brooklyn to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Per Brian
Compton, “#Isles will
honor Bill Torrey later in season as home games shift to Coliseum, I’m told.
Still being finalized.”
Per Robert Brodsky, “The 1st phase of a $1.5 billion development of the Nassau Hub -- the
county's largest tract of undeveloped land -- is expected to break ground in
Dec. 2019. Hearings and legislative votes by years end, developers say.”
Per Allan
Walsh, “Center Jan Kovar has signed a PTO with the Providence Bruins (AHL).
He’s going to PLAY games and we will evaluate his NHL options in approx 3 weeks.”
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