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The Skinny: Isles 5, Chicago 4

"The Skinny"  By Eric Hornick Game 31 Isles 5, Chicago 4 Simon Holmstrom scored a goal and added two assists, while Jean-Gabriel P...

Friday, February 17, 2017

The Skinny: Isles 4, Rangers 2

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick
 
Game 56
Isles 4, Rangers 2
Andrew Ladd recorded his third two-goal game of the season and Nikolay Kulemin scored the eventual winning goal while shorthanded early in the third period as the Islanders snapped the Rangers' 6-game win streak and defeated the Blue Shirts 4-2 before a sellout crowd of 15,795 at Barclays Center. The Isles improve to 8-0-2 in their last 10 games in Brooklyn; it's the first time that the Isles have had a single-season point streak of at least 10 games at home since 1990, and matches their longest home point streak in the Post-Cup era.
 
Nick Holden and Jimmy Vesey scored for the Rangers; the latter goal upheld after the first challenge by Doug Weight behind the Isles bench.  Anders Lee scored his 22nd goal for the Isles; all but one of his goals have come since November 23rd.
 
The Islanders fall to 9-3-2 under Interim Coach Doug Weight and climb back within one point of the idle Maple Leafs for the 2nd wild card spot.  Each team has 26 games to play.
 
The Scoring:
1ST PERIOD
06:23    New York Nick Holden (9) ASST: Mats Zuccarello (31), Brady Skjei (24)  0-1
 
2ND PERIOD
02:43    Isles     Anders Lee (22) ASST: Josh Bailey (28), John Tavares (27)        1-1
06:24    Isles     Andrew Ladd (13) ASST: Stephen Gionta (3)      2-1
 
3RD PERIOD
03:03    Isles     SHG - Nikolay Kulemin (10) ASST: John Tavares (28)    3-1
03:46    New York PPG - Jimmy Vesey (14) ASST: Rick Nash (12), Brady Skjei (25)         3-2
18:50    Isles     EN - Andrew Ladd (14) ASST: Jason Chimera (9)           4-2

The Skinny:
The Isles have allowed the first goal in four straight games (3-2-0) … Since opening the season 6-10-4, Isles are 20-10-6 in their last 36 games…Andrew Ladd has 12 goals since December 6th, when he scored his 3rd goal of the season (also against the Rangers); he is one of only 40 players in the NHL with at least 12 goals in that span…Josh Bailey recorded his 39th point of the season; it is the second-highest total of his career and only two points shy of his career-best; Bailey was assessed 3 minor penalties in the final 5 minutes of the second period -- he had only 4 penalty minutes all season before tonight… Bailey and John Tavares finished the night tied for the club lead in assists (28)… John Tavares recorded his 2nd point of the season while shorthanded…Stephen Gionta has three assists in just 7 NHL games this season…The Isles stopped point streaks for JT Miller (7 games) and Kevin Hayes (4 games)…Andrew Ladd is 6-2-8 in the last 10 games.
 
First Time in a Ridiculously Long Time
The Isles are 6-1-0 in the last two seasons against the Rangers; it's the first time since October 22, 1977- December 23, 1978 (7-1-0) that the Isles have had a streak where they have won at least six out of seven against the Rangers.
 
Home is Where the Heart Is
The Isles have earned points in their last ten home games (8-0-2).  It's the first time that they have earned points in ten straight home games since 2013, when they went 7-0-3 in a 10-game stretch, but over two seasons.
 
The last time that the Isles had a point streak of ten home games in a single season was in 1989-90, when they also earned points in ten straight games (12/16/1989 – 1/28/1990). 
 
Longest Point Streaks in Post -Cup Era
10 – CURRENT (8-0-2)
10 -  12/16/89-01/28/90 (9-0-1)
10 – 3/24/13-10/17/13 (7-0-3 – Multi-season Streak)
 
Should the Isles earn at least a point against New Jersey on Sunday, they will have an 11-game home point streak for the first time since the ended the 1981-82 season with a 23-game unbeaten streak (21-0-2).  That streak began on January 2, 1982 and was extended to 30 games over two seasons (28-0-2).
 
Most Goals Since November 23rd
1.      Max Pacioretty 24
2.      Anders Lee /Auston Matthews 21
3.      Vladimir Tarasenko/Cam Atkinson/Jeff Carter 20

Best Records since December 20th
1.      Capitals 20-3-3       (.827)
2.      Wild 20-5-2             (.778)
3.      Penguins 16-6-2      (.708)
4.      Isles 15-6-4            (.680)
 
Best Penalty Kill Since December 20th
1.      Anaheim 87.6%
2.      ISLES 86.4%
3.      Ottawa 86.4%
 
Best Power Play Since January 21st
1.      Capitals 35.5%
2.      Bruins 32.4%
3.      Devils 30.0%
4.      Blackhawks 29.2%
5.      Canucks 26.9%
6.      Predators 25.8%
7.      ISLES 25.6%
 
Playoff Chase:
 
Metropolitan
GP
PTS
1.   Washington
56
84
 
2.   Pittsburgh
56
79
 
3.   Columbus
55
77
 
 
 
Atlantic
GP
PTS
 
1.      Montréal
58
70
 
2.      Ottawa
55
66
 
3.      Boston
58
64
 



 
 
Wild Card
 
GP
 
PTS
 
1.      NY Rangers
57
75
 
2.      Toronto
56
63
 
3.      NY Islanders
56
62
 
4.      Philadelphia
58
61
 
5.      Florida
55
60
 
6.      Buffalo
58
60
 
7.      New Jersey
57
58
 
8.      Tampa Bay
56
57
 
9.      Carolina
53
55
 
10.   Detroit
57
54
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Last 25
The Isles are now 15-6-4 in their last 25 games (since December 20th vs. Boston).  In those games, the PP is 15-78(19.2%) and the penalty kill is 8-59 (86.4%).   The Isles have had 19 more power plays than their opponents over that span, which is the best differential in the NHL; the 59 times short is the second- fewest in the NHL over that span (Carolina has been short 57 times, but in only 22 games).
 
#1 is #1 (aka The Greiss is Right)
Thomas Greiss has started 18 of the last 21 games (10-5-3) and 20 of the last 26 games (12-5-3).  He has allowed two goals or less in 14 of his last 20 games.
 
50-50 to Begin February
The Isles are beginning February with a 10 game stretch that features five home games and five road games, all in a span of 17 days. The Isles are 4-3-1 in this stretch (3-0-1 at home and 1-3-0 on the road).
 
2/3 at Red Wings (Lost 4-5)
2/4 vs. Hurricanes (Lost 4-5 OT)
2/6 vs. Maple Leafs (Won 6-5 OT)
2/9 at Flyers (Won 3-1)
2/11 at Senators (Lost 0-3)
2/12 vs. Avalanche (Won 5-1)
2/14 at Maple Leafs (Lost 1-7)
2/16 vs. Rangers (Won 4-2)
2/18 at Devils
2/19 vs. Devils
 
The Isles play 22 of their final 34 on the road and do not have a homestand longer than two games. Following this 10-game stretch the Isles will play nine straight road games for the first time in franchise history.
 
The Shots
Isles       7-9-7=23
Rangers 5-11-11=27
 
The Isles are 13-6-4 when they outshoot their opponents and 2-2-0 when the shots are even but are 11-13-5 when they are outshot.
 
Home and Road
The Islanders are 26-20-10 overall; 19-8-6 at home and 7-12-4 on the road. 
The Rangers are 37-19-1 overall; 18-11-1 at home and 19-8-0 on the road.  
 
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 8-6-4 in Division games and 18-14-6 in games versus other divisions (7-9-3 vs. Atlantic, 5-2-1 vs. Central and 6-3-2 vs. Pacific).   The Isles are 15-15-7 against the East and 11-5-3 against the West.
 
In the Nets
Thomas Greiss made 25 saves as he improves to 18-10-3 on the season and 2-0-1 in his career against the Rangers.
Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves but falls to 26-14-1 on the season and 30-19-6 in his career against the Isles. 
 
Power Plays
The Isles went 0-2 on the power play, while Rangers were 1-4 but allowed the Kulemin shorthanded goal.
The Isles are 11-6-6 when they score at least one power play goal and 15-14-4 when they do not.  The Isles are 9-10-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 17-10-5 when they do not.    
 
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 25-5-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 1-15-7 when they do not. 

One Goal Games
The Isles are 8-7-10 in games decided by a single goal including 4-7-0 in regulation. They are 3-7 in games decided in overtime and are 1-3 in shootouts.  The Isles are 4-1 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game (including one game that they allowed a goal after scoring an empty-netter).
 
First Goal
The Isles are 18-6-6 when they score first and are 8-14-4 when they allow the opening goal.

Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 4-5-1 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 3-3-4 on the back-end. 
The Isles will play 16 sets of back-to-backs this season. The next back-to-back set is a home-and-home series with New Jersey on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Tired vs. Rested
·        The Isles are 2-1-3 when both teams played the night before.
·        The Isles are 5-3-2 when they are rested and their opponents are not.
·        The Isles are 1-2-1 when their opponents are rested and the Isles are not.
·        The Isles are 18-14-4 when both teams are rested.
 
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Nick Leddy (21:23); Rangers: Ryan McDonagh (25:42)
 
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Travis Hamonic (5-0-0), Nick Leddy (12-15-8), John Tavares (2-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (5-4-1), Dennis Seidenberg (1-0-1), Calvin de Haan (1-0-0)
 
John Tavares led the Isles forwards with 19:38 of ice-time. Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (19-12-8), Josh Bailey (4-5-2), Casey Cizikas (1-0-0), Cal Clutterbuck (0-1-0), Brock Nelson (1-2-0), Shane Prince (1-0-0).
 
Face-offs
Isles 32, Rangers 21 (60%). 
 
Casey Cizikas won 10 of 12 for the Isles; Derek Stepan won 12 of 17 for the Rangers.
 
Face-offs by period: 1st period- 11/19; 2nd period 11/19; 3rd period 10/15.
 
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 24/42; Power play 3/5; Penalty kill 5/6.
 
Hit Count
Isles 31, Rangers 18.  Stephen Gionta and Johnny Boychuk led the Isles with five hits; Jesper Fast had three hits for the Rangers.
 
Fights
There were no fights.  Season total – 10: (Hamonic 3, Strome 2, Boychuk 1, Chimera 1, deHaan 1, Mayfield 1, Hickey 1).
 
Blocked Shots
The Isles were credited with 18 blocked shots, including four from Calvin deHaan.
 
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 52, Rangers 58
5on-5 Isles 37, Rangers 45
 
5-on 5 leaders:
Isles: Stephen Gionta and Casey Cizikas +2; Casey Cizikas 57%
Rangers: Michael Grabner and Brady Skjei +7
 
Ironmen
Jason Chimera – 162 (including 106 for the Capitals); Josh Bailey 123
 
Scratches
Adam Pelech, Shane Prince (injured), Cal Clutterbuck (injured)
 
Injured Reserve: Travis Hamonic
Total games lost: 106

All-time Islander Leader Boards:
 
Games Played (skaters)
1.      Bryan Trottier 1123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1060 *** 3. Bob Nystrom 900
….
10. Billy Harris 623 *** 11. Stefan Persson 622 *** 12. Josh Bailey 613
15 Garry Howatt 596 *** 16. John Tonelli 594 *** 17. John Tavares 566
 
Goals
1.      Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310
7. Bob Bourne 238 *** 8. Bob Nystrom 235 **** 9. John Tavares 227
25. Ray Ferraro 116 *** 26. Ed Westfall and Benoit Hogue 105 *** 28. Josh Bailey 104
 
Assists
1.      Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553
8. Stefan Persson 317 *** 9. Bob Bourne 304 *** 10. John Tavares 292
16. Frans Nielson and Kyle Okposo 230 *** 18. Pierre Turgeon 193 *** 19. Josh Bailey 185
 
Points
1.      Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052
6. Pat LaFontaine 566 *** 7. John Tonelli 544 *** 8. Bob Bourne 542 *** 9.  John Tavares 519
20. Mariusz Czerkawski 295 *** 21. Duane Sutter 292 *** 22. Alexei Yashin 290 *** 23. Josh Bailey 289
 
Late Heroes
The Isles have scored three times in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game:
·        11/25 – SJ Sharks -- Nick Leddy (19:02); tied game, but Isles lost in regulation
·        11/30 – Pit Penguins – Anders Lee (19:33); Game Winning goal
·        2/6 – Tor Maple Leafs – Andrew Ladd (18:31); Isles won in overtime
 
Fit to Be Tied
The Isles have allowed the final goal of regulation in 10 of their 14 games that have gone to overtime this season, including three in the final minute:
 
·        10/16 – Ana Ducks – Ryan Getzlaf (19:00); Isles won in OT
·        11/3 – Phi Flyers – Jakob Voracek (19:02/PP); Flyers won in SO
·        11/12 – Fla Panthers – Jonathan Marchessault (19:46); Panthers won in OT
 
Late Losses
The Isles have been tied in the third period in 12 of their 20 regulation losses (and 22 of their 30 overall losses) but have allowed the lead goal in the final 3 minutes of regulation seven times (including one game they rallied to win):
 
·        10/18 – SJ Sharks - Joe Pavelski (17:49)
·        10/26 – Mtl Canadiens - Shea Weber (17:03)
·        10/27 – Pit Penguins - Sidney Crosby (17:35)
·        11/23 – LA Kings – Dwight King (17:07)
·        11/25 – SJ Sharks – Patrick Marleau (19:37)
·        2/3 – Det Red Wings – Danny DeKeyser (19:32)
·        2/6 – Tor Maple Leafs – Michael Nylander (17:59) (Isles won game in OT)
 
Season Series Stats
The Isles lead the season series two games to one (and four points to two).  The final meeting will occur in a nationally-televised game on March 22 at Madison Square Garden.
 
The Isles have swept the season series in Brooklyn for the second straight season (4-0-0, including once in a shootout).  
 
Overall, the Isles are 6-1-0 in the last two seasons against the Rangers; it's the first time since October 23 1977- December 23, 1978 (7-1-0) that the Isles have had a streak where they have won at least six out of seven against the Rangers.

On The Farm
The Sound Tigers begin another 3-in-3 weekend on Friday in Rochester (MSG Network).  Bridgeport is 30-16-1-1 on the season; Jaroslav Halak has set a club record by extending his winning streak to 10 straight games.
 
Bracken Kearns leads the Sound Tigers in goals (17) and points (17-22-39).  Rookie Devon Toews leads the team with 24 assists.  Pulock leads the defense with 10 goals (10-12-22 in only 27 games) and tied for the AHL defense lead with 4 game-winning goals (all in the last 2½ weeks).  Jaroslav Halak leads the team in wins (11-1-2).
 
Bridgeport will visit Albany on Saturday before hosting Hershey on Sunday at 3pm.

Up Next
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18th –ISLANDERS AT NEW JERSEY– 7:00PM
[MSG+ (Isles Game Night begins at 6:30), WNYM 970AM, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN]
 
It has been 365 days since the Islanders and Devils faced-off against each other, but that streak will come to an end on Saturday when the teams begin a home-and-home series in Newark.
 
The Isles blanked the Devils in each of their last two meetings and will carry a 135:57 shutout streak against New Jersey into the game on Saturday.  In their last meeting (2/19/2016), Casey Cizikas scored the game's only goal 1:59 into the first period – the earliest goal in a 1-0 game in Islander history.  The Devils' last game against the Isles was scored on November 3, 2015, when Travis Zajac tied the game early in the third period.  Casey Cizikas also had the winning goal in that game, a 2-1 victory.
 
LONGEST MULTIPLE-SHUTOUT STREAKS Vs. ONE OPPONENT
·        277:44 (four consecutive shutouts) vs. Tampa Bay in 1998
·        222:11 (three consecutive shutouts) vs. Washington in 1996-97.
·        154:08 (two consecutive shutouts) vs. Washington in 1977-78.
·        152:21 (two consecutive shutouts) vs. Atlanta in 2003-05
·        135:57 (two consecutive shutouts) vs. New Jersey CURRENT
 
Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since January 21, 1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various sources.  Follow Eric @ehornick on Twitter & on his blog http://www.nyiskinny.com./


 
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

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