Some Significant Positives for Islanders

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.”