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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 ...

Saturday, March 26, 2022

The Skinny: Boston 6, Isles 3

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 63
Boston 6, Isles 3
Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall each scored a goal and added two assists as the Boston Bruins earned a 6-3 win over the Isles before the customary sell-out crowd of 17,850 at TD Garden in Boston. 

Brock Nelson reached the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career while Anders Lee hit 25 goals for the fifth time; among left wings only Clark Gillies (7) has had more 25-goal seasons for the Isles. 

The Isles fell to 7-2-1 in their last ten games and 28-26-9 on the season. 

The Scoring:
1st Period
Craig Smith (15) Brandon Carlo (8), Charlie Coyle (24) 04:03 NYI 0,BOS 1
Taylor Hall (14) Charlie McAvoy (33), Brad Marchand (36) 19:26 NYI 0,BOS 2 PPG
Brock Nelson (30) Zdeno Chara (10), Anders Lee (13) 19:48 NYI 1,BOS 2

2nd Period
David Pastrnak (37) Erik Haula (23), Taylor Hall (34) 02:13 NYI 1,BOS 3 
Brad Marchand (28) Patrice Bergeron (29) 03:56  NYI 1,BOS 4
Anders Lee (25) Jean-Gabriel Pageau (18), Noah Dobson (27) 05:12 NYI 2,BOS 4 PPG
Erik Haula (9) David Pastrnak (29), Taylor Hall (35) 14:33 NYI 2,BOS 5
Jake DeBrusk (16) Brad Marchand (37), Charlie McAvoy (34) 18:18 NYI 2,BOS 6

3rd Period
Zach Parise (10) Anthony Beauvillier (21), Kyle Palmieri (12) 14:43 NYI 3,BOS 6 PPG
 
The Skinny           
Anders Lee improved to 11-7-18 in the last eleven games… Brock Nelson is 11-6-17 in the last thirteen games and has 15 goals in 20 games since February 17th – the most goals in the NHL in that span (not including later games on Saturday); he now has 198 career goals.… The Isles allowed the first goal for only the fifth time in the last 19 games after allowing the opening goal in 11 of the prior 12 games…The Isles alternated goalies for the fourteenth straight game… Patrice Bergeron became the 119th NHL player to appear in 1,200 games…Kyle Palmieri assisted on the late Parise goal; he also had his third apparent goal of the season disallowed by video review. He has 196 career goals…Anthony Beauvillier took only his second penalty of the season…Isles allowed six goals, matching the most allowed under Barry Trotz and allowed 44 shots (most in any home game this season)…The Bruins are 14-2-1 in their last seventeen games…The Isles allowed 80 shot attempts for the first time since a 4-3 win at Washington on December 31, 2019.

Whoa, NEL – LEE!
Brock Nelson and Anders Lee are reaching goal totals this month rarely seen by an Islander in recent years:  
Both players scored their 11th goals of March today.
They are the first Islander teammates since Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner (February 2011) to reach double figures in the same month.
They are the first Islander teammates since Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier (January 1986) to each score at least 11 goals in a month.
They are the first Islanders since Lee had eleven goals in December 2017 to score at least 10 goals in a month.
If either player can score in the final three games of March, they would become the first Islander since Zigmund Palffy (13 in March 1996) to score at least 12 goals in any month.

Zach-ack-ack-ack
Zach Parise scored his tenth goal of the season and 403rd of his career. It was his 121st career power play goal but first in two seasons. Parise broke a tie with four others, including Corey Perry, to move into sole possession of 100th place on the all-time goal list. Seven of his 10 goals this season have come since the All-Star break.

Home is Where The Sorokin Is
Ilya Sorokin improved to 12-3-3 at UBS Arena. His 1.82 GAA is the lowest of any goalie who has played at least ten home games.

Since February 1st, he has been even better, going 6-0-1 in seven home starts (1.41 GAA, .954 save percentage); both the goals against and save percentage are the best in the NHL among goalies who have played at least four home games in that stretch.

Great in the Nets
Ilya Sorokin is 5-1-0 in his last six games; he has allowed just nine goals in those six games (5-1-0, 1.51, .956).  Both the goals against and save percentage are the best in the NHL among goalies who have played at least three games in that stretch.
Semyon Varlamov had allowed only seven goals in his last four games (3-0-1, 1.72, .944) before allowing six goals for the first time as an Islander today.

Special Special Teams
The Isles went 2-4 on the power play and are 11-30 (36.7%) in their last eleven games. Since March 5th, only Colorado (12) has more power play goals than the Isles; Florida also has 11.

The Isles killed two of three penalties and have now killed 36 of 41 in the last fifteen games (87.8%).  At home they are even better, having killed 27 of 28 since the beginning of February; their 96.4% home PK in that span is the best in the NHL (Calgary 95.6%).

Strong at Home
The Isles have won six straight games at UBS Arena for the first time; it is only the 20th home winning  and streak of at least six games in club history. The Isles last won six straight home games between 2/28 and 3/11/2021; they will be looking to match their longest home winning streak in 32 years on Sunday.

All-Star Break Splits
The Islander offense has improved significantly since the All-Star break. The Isles scored 92 goals in 39 games before the break (2.4/gm) and have scored 80 in 24 games since the break (3.3/gm).  

Forwards:
Before: 80-106-186 in 39 games (4.8/gm)
After:   71-87-158 in 24 games  (6.6/gm)

Defense:
Before: 12-47-59 in 39 games (1.5/gm)
After:     9-55-64 in 24 games (2.7/gm)

Most Career Goals by an Islander Wearing #27
1. Derek King 211
2. Anders Lee 209
3. John Tonelli 206

Most Shutouts In a Season
7 Chico Resch 1975-76
7 Semyon Varlamov 2020-21 (56-game season)
6 Ilya Sorokin 2021-22
6 Robin Lehner 2018-19
6 Jaroslav Halak 2014-15

March Madness
The Isles are playing 17 games this month, most of any month in franchise history  The Isles are 8-5-1 this month.

Home and Road
The Isles are 28-26-9 overall; they are 17-12-4 at home and 11-14-5 on the road.
Boston is 41-19-5 overall; they are 20-10-2 at home and 21-9-3 on the road.

Home is Where the Fans Are
The Isles have played 33 home games and recorded 25 sellouts. The sellout crowds of 17,255 are the largest indoor crowds to ever see the Islanders play at home. 

Leader of the Pack
Barry Trotz has coached more games and recorded more victories than any other active coach. Trotz' NHL record is 905-662-60-166 in 1,793 games.

Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman  1,244
2. Joel Quenneville  970
3. Barry Trotz    905

Most Games Coached
1. Scotty Bowman  2,141
2. Barry Trotz        1,793
3. Joel Quenneville 1,768

Sweet Lou
Lou Lamoriello has the second-highest win total for any general manager in NHL history:
1. David Poile 1,483 
2. Lou Lamoriello 1,354
3. Glen Sather 1,319

It All Starts at the Top
Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,259 wins between them. They start each game with more than any other pair in NHL history (David Poile and Peter Laviolette had 2,036 after their last game together). Bill Torrey and Al Arbour had a then-record 1,462 at the end of the 1991-92 season, which was their last season together. 

First Things First
The Isles are 23-7-5 when scoring first and are 5-19-4 when allowing the opening goal. 

The Shots
Isles    13-9-5=27
Boston    19-17-8=44
The Isles are 11-6-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-1 when the shots are even and 17-19-4 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 82-55-17 when outshot.

In the Nets
Semyon Varlamov made 38 saves; he is 6-13-2 on the season and 12-7-3 vs. Boston.   

Linus Ullmark made 24 saves; he is 20-9-2 on the season and 4-5-1 vs. the Isles.   

Special Teams
The Isles were 2-4 on the power play (6:04); Boston was 1-3 on the power play (4:07).

The Isles are 15-8-5 when they score at least one power play goal and 13-18-4 when they do not. The Isles are 6-11-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 22-15-5 when they do not.

Three is (Usually) a Magic Number
The Isles are 24-8-4 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 4-18-5 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 111-17-15 when scoring three or more.

One-Goal Games
The Isles are 7-8-9 in games decided by a single goal including 5-8 in regulation. They are 1-3 in games decided in overtime and are 1-6 in shootouts. The Isles are 1-6 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game (including one game the Isles scored after allowing an empty-netter).

Back-to-Backs
Including today, the Isles are 7-5-1 in the front end and 4-7-1 in the back end. This back-to-back concludes Sunday vs. Tampa Bay. The next back-to-back will be March 31st vs. Columbus and April 1st at the Rangers.
 
Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 25-11-5 in back-ends. 

Matinee Isles
The Isles are 3-3-3 in matinees this season; the next matinee will be on Sunday vs. Tampa Bay. The Isles will play thirteen matinees this season.

Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Noah Dobson (22:40); Boston: Derek Forbort (21:22)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau led Isles forwards with 18:16 of ice-time. 

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Adam Pelech (11-4-4), Noah Dobson (7-9-3), Ryan Pulock (6-4-1), Anthony Beauvillier (0-1-0), Mathew Barzal (0-0-1), Zdeno Chara (2-1-0), Sebastian Aho (0-1-0), Robin Salo (0-2-0), Scott Mayfield (0-3-0), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (0-2-0).

Face-offs
Isles 27, Boston 28 (49%)
Casey Cizikas won 11 of 16 for the Isles; Patrick Bergeron won 11 of 19 for Boston.

Hit Count
Isles 26 (Three with 4)
Boston 22 (Curtis Lazar-4)
Fights 
Matt Martin fought Nick Foligno (for the second time this season) in the third period. Season total: 20 (Chara 5, Martin 5, Johnston 2, Pageau 2, Mayfield 2,  Bellows 1, Nelson 1, Palmieri 1, Wahlstrom 1)
 
Blocked Shots
Isles 17 (Three with 3)
Boston 5 (Five with 1)

For the Analytics Crowd 
Corsi: All situations: Isles 38, Boston 80
Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 29, Boston 69

5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Ross Johnston  -1
Boston: Craig Smith +19

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)
All situations: Isles 14, Boston 15
5-on-5: Isles 10, Boston 12

Scratches
(Cal Clutterbuck-INJ), (Scott Mayfield-INJ), Kieffer Bellows
Games Lost: 131 (82 to injuries and 49 to COVID protocol)
Zach Parise is the only Islander to have played in every game this season.

Challenges
Isles: 3 successful, 1 failure
The Isles are 2-0-1 in games that they are successful (offside 1/18 @PHI, no goalie interference 2/22 @SEA, offside 3/15 @ WSH) and 0-1-0 in games that they are unsuccessful (no goalie interference 10/14 @CAR).

Opponents: 4 successful, 1 failure
The Isles are 2-1-1 in games where opponents' challenges go their way (goalie interference 10/16 @FLA and 10/23 @ARI; offside 12/19 vs VGK, goalie interference 3/5 vs STL) and 0-0-1 in games where challenges go the Isles' way (goalie interference 3/15 vs WSH)

Last Minute Heroes:
The Isles have scored four goals and allowed two goals in the final three minutes of the third period that were either the winning goal or forced overtime:
For: 4  (Noah Dobson 19:56 – 12/5/21 vs CHI; Isles lost in SO) (Brock Nelson 17:03 – 2/20/22 vs OTT; Isles lost in SO), (Anders Lee 18:01 – 3/15/22 @ WSH; Isles lost in SO), (Kyle Palmieri 17:16 – 3/17/22 vs. NYR -GWG)
Vs:  2 (Eeli Tolvanen 19:48 – 12/9/21 vs NSH-GWG), (Shea Theodore 19:12 – 12/19/21 vs VGK; Isles lost in SO)

All-time Islander Leader Boards:
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 974…
9. Brent Sutter 694 *** 10. John Tavares 669 *** 11. Matt Martin 666  *** 12. Brock Nelson 658 *** 13. Casey Cizikas 646 … 
18. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 19. Garry Howatt 596 *** 20. John Tonelli 594 *** 21. Cal Clutterbuck 589 *** 22. Anders Lee 577

Goals    
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
9. Bobby Nystrom 235 *** 10. Derek King 211 *** 11. Anders Lee 209 *** 12. John Tonelli 206 *** 13. Brock Nelson 198 *** 14 Billy Harris 184 *** 15. Josh Bailey 169

Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 *** 4. Josh Bailey 373…
17. Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo 230 *** 19. Mathew Barzal 206 ***20. Nick Leddy 198 *** 21. Pierre Turgeon 193 *** 22. Ed Westfall 181 *** 23. Kenny Jonsson and Brock Nelson 175

Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1,353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1,126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1,052…
8. John Tonelli 544 *** 9. Bob Bourne and Josh Bailey 542 …
14. Billy Harris 443 *** 15. Brock Nelson 370 ***  16. Kyle Okposo and Stefan Persson 369 *** 18.  Anders Lee 358…
22. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 23. Mariusz Czerkawski 295 *** 24. Mathew Barzal 294

+/-
1. Bryan Trottier +467 *** 2. Denis Potvin +456 *** 3. Mike Bossy +380…
19. JP Parise +67 *** 20. Adam Pelech +62 *** 21. Jude Drouin +58 *** 22. Patrick Flatley +57 *** 23. Greg Gilbert +54 *** 24. Gord Lane +48  

Games Coached 
1. Al Arbour 1,500 *** 2. Jack Capuano 483 *** 3. Barry Trotz 269
 
Coaching Wins
1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 143

On the Farm
Bridgeport is 4-0-1-0 in their last four and 25-25-6-4 on the season heading into their game with Toronto late Saturday afternoon. The Baby Isles are at AHL-.500 for the first time since November 10th (5-5-0-2).

Chris Terry continues to lead the team with 21 goals and 46 points while Otto Koivula has a team-leading 30 helpers. Jakub Skurek is 15-11-4 in goal on the season while Cory Schneider is 9-10-3.

The Isles will play Sunday afternoon in Rochester and next Saturday in Wilkes-Barre Scranton before returning home to face Lehigh Valley next Sunday afternoon.

Season Series Stats
The Isles win the season series, 2 games to 1 (and 4 points to 2).   

Despite today's loss, the Isles have won the season series in consecutive seasons from Boston for the first time since going 7-0-1 in 2005-06 and 2006-07 against the Bs.

UP NEXT
SUNDAY, MARCH 27th  –TAMPA BAY AT ISLANDERS 2:00 PM 
[TNT, WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN Radio]
The last time the Lightning were on Long Island Anthony Beauvillier was scoring the overtime goal in game six of the Stanley Cup Semi-finals.

The teams have played only once this season – a 4-1 Lightning win in the penultimate game of the Isles' 13-game road trip to open the season.

In regular season play, the Isles are 2-0-1 in the last three home games against Tampa Bay and are 3-2-1 in their last six overall against the Bolts.

The Isles have won six straight games at home and will be looking to match their longest home winning streak in 32 years.

TNT will carry this game nationally; Brendan Burke and Darren Pang will be on the call.

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 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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