After a disappointing couple of games against Calgary (2-4) and Edmonton (3-4 OT), our New York Islanders beat the Canucks in Vancouver by a score of 4-0. It's Robin Lehner's 4th shutout of the season. Casey Cizikas scored a huge goal in the 1st to open the scoring. It was his 17th of the Ssn, tied with Matt Barzal for 3rd best on the team behind Anders Lee (21) and Brock Nelson (19). His +2 rating in the game gives him a +24 for the season. "A mark no Islander forward (Benoit Hogue +30/Ray Ferraro +25 in 1991-92) has reached in the last 27 years," per Eric Hornick. He's scored a short-handed goal and contributed 3 game winners, and with 17 & 10 for 27pts in 54 games, Cizikas can close out the regular schedule with career-best numbers.
Casey Cizikas has become an integral part of the team's offensive punch with his linemates. The "4th" line has been one of the Isles best, scoring big goals (Clutterbuck, 18 pts & Martin, 12 pts) and setting an agitation level that can get the most veteran opponents off their game. "Cizikas now has five of the last 18 Isles goals; it's the first time in his professional career he has scored 17 goals in a season [16 between Bridgeport and the Isles in 2012-13]," -Hornick. With a 22-6-3 since December 15, the Isles are 2nd only to the TBL with wins during that span.
I've been a fan of Cizikas since the start. I love his energy, tenacity and his unassuming talent to net the big goal or engineer the perfect pass off a rush he starts from the defensive zone. I see him as a character guy who never takes a shift off and a huge reason why the current incarnation of the Isles machine is working so well under Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello. The Islanders are poised to not only make the playoffs but might be one of the most unfavorable teams for an opponent to face, especially at home. The Isles will finish out their home games at the Coliseum and open round one of the playoffs at the old barn as well. "The Isles are 6-1-2 on Coliseum ice; they are averaging 98.1% of capacity on Long Island (including six sellouts)," -Hornick. Here's to continued balance, discipline, defense and evolution to take the 1st season in the new age of Islanders hockey as far as it can go.
Thursday, February 28th
The Islanders roll into next week with a rematch against CGY on Tuesday, Tavares and TOR on Thursday and the WSH on Friday. All the games remaining are important for momentum, establishing home ice and keeping the team trending upwards, especially after the shortcoming from 2/3rds of the Western Canada road trip. However, to not say the game against the Maple Leafs and the return of Tavares to the Coliseum won't be a media circus is just unrealistic. Also, don't think the hockey world won't be watching the way the organization and fan base reacts. I assume it’s likely for the organization to have a tribute video for Tavares at some point during the game. While I get that some fans would like nothing more than to jeer Tavares or the Maple Leafs, I'd go along with the ideology of being an Islander.
Making the game a celebration of the Islanders and all they have achieved so far this season would be the best way to send a message to the visiting team and all of its players. A "Let's go Islanders" chant or even dead silence during a tribute video would be the way to show the class this fan base has. As much as "Pajama Boy" could be heard around the concourse or arena, Chants for Lee, Barzal, Cizikas, Lehner, Greiss or any one of our guys would send a stronger message. One of loyalty and pride in the organization. One that can celebrate the team meeting or exceeding long established statistics or post-cup records in what has been a fantastic season so far for the same long-suffering, die-hard fan base. I'd recommend listening to the verbal cues of Section 329 or using some discretion from the tailgate to the post-game activities, regardless of the game's outcome. Don't give snarky media outlets or antagonistic fans any ammunition.
Most of all, let's just enjoy the moments to come, and all look forward to what's coming for our team beyond a trade deadline acquisition that may or may not happen next week.
Isles Notes:
Per SiriusXM, “Mathew Barzal hitting new levels. He’s now in the Top 5 for most points as an #Isles before the age of 22. Trottier- 290, Tavares- 202, Lafontaine- 171, Potvin- 147, Barzal- 136.
Per Eric Hornick, “The Isles are 19-5-3 since Devon Toews joined the lineup and are 22-6-3 in their last 31 games; Toews now has an assist in five straight games.”
“Robin Lehner is 15-3-2 (1.68, .943) in his last 20 decisions. He lowered his NHL-leading GAA is 2.07 and his save percentage is .931 (.9307), which is also now the best in the NHL (Vasilevskiy .9305).
Thomas Greiss is 5-1-1 in the last seven games, allowing a total of seven goals on 220 shots (5-1-1, 0.98 GAA, .968 save percentage). On the season, his GAA is 2.26 and his save percentage is .928 (.9277).
Lehner has won 19 games and Greiss 17. It's only the 2nd time in the last 15 seasons that the Isles have gotten at least 17 wins from two different goalies. Greiss won 23 games and Jaroslav Halak 18 in 2015-16.”
Per Randi Marshall, “Without Belmont, goodbye Isles.”
