Featured Post

The Skinny: Rangers 5, Isles 2

"The Skinny" By Eric Hornick Game 68 Rangers 5, Isles 2 Johnny Brodzinski broke a 2-2 tie with 4:59 left in the middle period and ...

Monday, October 12, 2009

Stat Trick: Los Angeles 2, Isles 1

There would be no disappointment in overtime or a shootout this time.  For the first time this season, an Islander game ended after 60 minutes.  When it was over, the Isles were still winless.  On to the trick....
 
1.  Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty had the goals for the Kings.  Both players have had at least a point in all five Kings games.
 
2.  Kopitar's goal came on the power play.  It was the first power play goal allowed by the Isles this season.  They had been the only team in the NHL not to allow a power play tally, and came after ten consecutive successful penalty kills by the Isles.
 
3. Matt Moulson avoided the shutout by beating his good friend Jonathan Quick with 1:55 to play.  It ended an Isles' scoreless streak totalling 87:17.
 
... a few more...
 
4.  John Tavares was on-ice for Moulson's goal, but was held without a point for the first time in his NHL career.
 
5.  The Isles have now lost four consecutive games by a single goal, matching the club record, set three times previously.
 
6.  The Kings have had the Isles' number for some time now.  The Isles haven't beaten the Kings at all since February 15, 2003 (three losses, a shootout loss, and a tie), and haven't beaten the Kings on Long Island since October 27, 1998 (four losses, a shootout loss, and a tie).
 
7.  The Isles out-hit Los Angeles 19-2 in the first period and 34-22 for the game.  Andy Sutton led the way with seven hits.
 
8. Ryan Smyth played on Long Island for the first time as an ex-Isle.  He led all King forwards with 22:05 of ice-time and assisted on Kopitar's goal.
 
9.  The Isles are winless through four games for the first time since opening the 2000-01 season 0-3-1.  It's the fourth time in their history that they've gone winless in the season's first four games (1973, 1995, 2000).  The club record is seven games, held by the 1973-74 team.  That team, Al Arbour's first, opened 0-3-4.
 
10.  The Isles have played a Columbus Day matinee in four of the last five seasons.  They've lost four, scoring one goal in each game.  The Isles are 0-5 in their history in home Columbus Day games.
 
Up next:  The Isles head to Buffalo Friday for the front-end of the season's first set of back-to-backs.  The Isles were 2-1-1 against the Sabres last season.
 
 
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

No comments: