"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 51
Isles 3, Rangers 0
The Islanders are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight season!
Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves for his third consecutive shutout and Anthony Beauvillier scored twice as the Islanders completed a whitewash of the home-and-home series with a 3-0 blanking of the Rangers before a socially-distanced crowd of 1,400 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Mathew Barzal scored on a breakaway for the Isles, while Josh Bailey matched a career high with three assists as the Islanders clinched a post in the playoffs beyond Varlamov's 7th shutout of the season (and 4th against the Rangers).
The Isles remain in 3rd place in the East Division, four points behind Pittsburgh and two points behind Washington. The Isles and Caps have five games to play while Pittsburgh has four. Boston is just one point behind the Isles; the Bruins have six games to play and will clinch the final playoff spot in the division if they earn one more point.
The Scoring:
1st Period
Anthony Beauvillier (12) Josh Bailey (22), Nick Leddy (27) 04:39 NYR 0,NYI 1
Mathew Barzal (15) Josh Bailey (23) 16:22 NYR 0,NYI 2
2nd Period
Anthony Beauvillier (13) Brock Nelson (13), Josh Bailey (24) 01:02 NYR 0,NYI 3
3rd Period
No Goals
The Skinny
The Isles are 12-9-1 since the end of their 9-game win streak (and 12-game point streak) … The Isles have killed 30 of the last 31 opponent power plays (96.8%) and have scored a shorthanded goal in that span as well; the Isles have also killed 45 of 49 at home this season (91.8%)…The team that scored first has won the last fourteen Islander games and has won all eight Islander-Ranger games this season ….The Isles have only five regulation wins in the last 19 games (three vs. the Rangers)…The Isles have not allowed a goal in 178:31… Anthony Beauvillier is 13-10-23 in 21 games vs. the Rangers; his .62 goals per game is the highest of active player who has faced the Rangers at least 15 times… Mathew Barzal is 7-18-25 in 20 games against the Blueshirts; among active players who have faced the Rangers at least 15 times, only Sidney Crosby (1.28) averages more points per games than Barzal's 1.25…Nick Leddy regained the team lead with his 27th assist….Brock Nelson passed Anders Lee for the 3rd-longest consecutive game streak in club history (296) while Ryan Pulock tied John Tavares for the 8th-longest streak (246); it was also Nelson's 599th game as an Islander… Nelson will become the 16th Islander skater to appear in 600 games with his next appearance…Josh Bailey matched his career high as he recorded his 10th three-assist game…Semyon Varlamov leads the NHL with a career-high shutouts (7); the Isles lead the league with ten shutouts.
Varly Rewrites the History Books
• First Islander goalie to ever record three consecutive shutouts and the 56th goalie in NHL history to do so.
• His overall shutout streak is now a career-best (and club record) 213:56, breaking a club record set by Chico Resch in 1975.
• Ties Resch's club record of seven shutouts in one season.
• First opponent to shut out the Rangers four times in a season in the expansion era; Harry Lumley (1952-53 Leafs) and Terry Sawchuk (1954-55 Red Wings) also had four shutouts in a season against the Blueshirts, but each played 14 games against the Rangers in that season.
First NHL goalie in the expansion era to shut out the same opponent four times in one season.
• It's the first time the Isles have shut out the same opponent four times in a season and the first time the Isles have shut out an opponent in both ends of a home-and-home
• First goalie to have seven shutouts in a season of 56 games or less since Dave Kerr had eight for the Rangers in 1939-1940.
• Currently has the lowest goals against (1.99) and highest save percentage (.9300) for a season for any goalie in Isles history.
Longest Shutout Streaks in Isles History (Goalie)
1. Semyon Varlamov 2020-21 213:56 (CURRENT)
2. Glenn Resch 1975-76 178:29
3. Robin Lehner 2018-19 177:43
4. Ron Hextall 1993-94 176:46
5. Wade Flaherty 1997-98 169:14
Longest Shutout Streaks in Isles History (Team)
1. 1997-78 199:14
2. 2014-15 193:48
3. 2020-21 178:31 (CURRENT)
4. 2016-17 166:44
5. 2011-12 159:11
First Times in a Long Time
• There were only 35 face-offs, fewest in an Islander game since April 7, 2001 (34 in season finale vs Boston). As a result, the game was played in only 2 hours and 11 minutes.
• This was the first game in May between the teams since May 5, 1981, when the Isles completed a sweep of their semi-final series.
• This was only the second regular season game the Isles had played in May; the other was on May 2, 1995.
The Playoff Chase (top 4 make playoffs)
X-Pittsburgh 71 points (4 to play)
X -Washington 69 points (5 to play)
X-ISLES 67 points (5 to play)
Boston 66 points (6 to play)
---------------------------------------------------
Rangers 58 points (4 to play)
Remaining Schedule:
• Sunday- no games
• Monday- Isles @ BUF, WAS @ NYR, BOS @ NJD, PIT @ PHI
• Tuesday- Isles @ BUF, BOS @ NJD, PIT @ PHI
• Wednesday- WAS @ NYR
• Thursday- NJD @ Isles, NYR @ BOS, BUF @ PIT
• Friday – PHI @ WAS
• Saturday - NJD @ Isles, NYR @ BOS, BUF @ PIT, PHI @ WAS
• Sunday, May 9th – Happy Mother's Day (no games)
• Monday, May 10th – Isles @ BOS, NJ @ PHI
• Tuesday, May 11th – BOS @ WAS
Race for the Jennings(includes shootout losers)
1. Vegas 110 goals allowed in 50 games 2.20
2. Isles 114 goals allowed in 51 games 2.24
3. Carolina 121 goals allowed in 51 games 2.37
4. Colorado 120 goals allowed in 49 games 2.45
5. Boston 123 goals allowed in 50 games 2.46
Most Shutouts in a Season
• 11 2018-19 (82-game schedule)
• 10 2020-21 (56-game schedule)
• 10 1975-76 (80-game schedule)
The Isles will earn a shutout in at least 17.91% of their games this season, breaking the previous record (13.4% in 2018-19).
Varly Solid
Semyon Varlamov is 12-5-2 in his last nineteen decisions, allowing just 37 goals in that span. Varly has won 19 games this season with a goals against average of 1.99 and save percentage of .930. Varlamov has 2510 NHL wins (passing Johnny Bower for 61st) and 34 shutouts, including an NHL-leading seven this season.
Most Shutouts by an Islander Goalie (one season):
1. Semyon Varlamov 7 (2020-21)
Chico Resch 7 (1975-76)
Lowest Goals Against by an Islander Goalie (one season) (minimum 1000 minutes):
1. Semyon Varlamov 1.99 (2020-21)
2. Chico Resch 2.08 (1975-76)
3. Robin Lehner 2.13 (2018-19)
4. Ilya Sorokin 2.19 (2020-21)
Highest Save Percentage by an Islander Goalie (one season) (minimum 1000 minutes):
1. Semyon Varlamov .9300 (2020-21)
2. Robin Lehner .9297 (2018-19)
3. Chico Resch .928 (1975-76)
4. Thomas Greiss .927 (2018-191)
Sorokin's Streaking
Ilya Sorokin is 12-4-0 in his last sixteen starts. He has allowed two goals or fewer in six of his last seven appearances and in twelve of his last sixteen starts.
Most Wins by an Islander Rookie Goalie (one season):
1. Chico Resch 23 (1975-76)
2. Roland Melanson 22 (1981-82)
3. Kelly Hrudey 19 (1984-85)
4. Ilya Sorokin 12 (2020-21)
Chico Resch 12 (1974-75)
Most Shutouts by an Islander Rookie Goalie (one season):
1. Chico Resch 7 (1975-76)
2. Ilya Sorokin 3 (2020-21)
Chico Resch 3 (1974-75)
(Resch appeared in 25 games in 1974-75 and thus was considered a rookie the following year)
Home Sweet Home
The Isles have earned points in 23 of their first 26 home games (20-3-3); it is their best home record through 26 games in the Post-Cup Era:
Most Points at Home Through 26 Games
• 44 1977-78 (20-2-4)
• 44 1980-81 (21-3-2)
• 43 1978-79 (19-2-5)
• 43 2020-21 (20-3-3)
Top of the Chart
The Isles now have 67 points in 51 games; it matches their highest point total through 51 games in the Post-Cup era:
• 67 2014-15
• 67 2020-21
• 66 2018-19
• 66 2019-20
Solid D
The Isles have allowed only 114 goals (including 2 shootout winners) in 51 games; it is the fewest goals that they have allowed through 51 games in their history:
• 114 (2020-21)
• 123 (1975-76)
• 123 (1977-78)
• 125 (2018-19)
• 127 (1976-77)
• 127 (2003-04)
Results vs. Each East Division Opponent
• Boston W-W-W-Wso-Wot-L-L Remaining games: 1 (0 home, 1 away)
• Buffalo W-W-W-W-W-W Remaining games: 2 (0 home, 2 away)
• New Jersey W-L-W-W-W-Wso Remaining games: 2 (2 home, 0 away)
• Rangers W-L-W-L-Wot-W-W-W Remaining games: 0
• Philadelphia Lot-Lot-L-W-Wot-Wso-Wso-Wot Remaining games: 0
• Pittsburgh W-Lso-L-L-Lot-W-L-L Remaining games: 0
• Washington L-L-L-W-W-Lso-L-L Remaining games: 0
Home and Road
The Isles are 31-15-5 overall; they are 20-3-3 at home and 11-12-2 on the road.
The Rangers are 26-20-6 overall; they are 14-9-3 at home and 12-11-3 on the road.
Coach Trotz
Barry Trotz is second among active coaches, trailing only Joel Quenneville, in both wins and games. Trotz' NHL record is 876-633-60-156 in 1,725 games.
Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman 1,244
2. Joel Quenneville 959
3. Barry Trotz 876
Most Games Coached
1. Scotty Bowman 2,141
2. Joel Quenneville 1,758
3. Barry Trotz 1,725
Sweet Lou
Lou Lamoriello has the second-highest win total for any general manager in NHL history:
1. David Poile 1,443
2. Lou Lamoriello 1,325
3. Glen Sather 1,319
It All Starts at the Top
Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,201 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 22-1-2 when scoring first and are 9-14-3 when allowing the opening goal.
• At home, Isles are 14-0-2 scoring first and 6-3-1 trailing first
• On road, Isles are 8-1-0 scoring first and 3-11-2 trailing first
The Isles have won 88.0% of the games that they have scored first, which is the highest percentage in the NHL (just ahead of Edmonton - .875 and Vegas - .871). The Isles are the only team with just one regulation loss when scoring first.
The Shots
Isles 13-8-4=25
Rangers 10-8-10=28
The Isles are 19-5-2 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-1-0 when the shots are even and 11-9-3 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 64-34-13 when outshot.
In the Nets
Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves to improve to 19-9-4 on the season and 11-6-2 in his career against the Rangers. All four of his career shutouts against the Rangers have come this season.
Alexandar Georgiev made 22 saves but falls to 8-6-2 on the season and 7-3-0 in his career against the Isles.
Special Teams
The Isles were 0-1 on the power play (2:00); the Rangers were 0-2 on the power play (4:00).
The Isles are 13-5-3 when they score at least one power play goal and 18-10-2 when they do not. The Isles are 6-9-2 when they allow at least one power play goal and 25-6-3 when they do not.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 23-4-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 8-11-2 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 88-9-10 when scoring three or more.
One-Goal Games
The Isles are 14-5-5 in games decided by a single goal including 6-5 in regulation. They are 4-3 in games decided in overtime and are 4-2 in shootouts. The Isles are 0-0 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.
Greatest Percentage of 1-goal games won
• 1981-82 -- .800
• 1982-83 & 1976-77 -- .667
• 1991-92 -- .619
• 2014-15 -- .605
• 2018-19 -- .594
• 2020-21 -- .583
Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 4-1-2 in the front-half and 4-2-1 in the back-half. The final back-to-back of the season will be on May 3rd/4th, both of which will be played in Buffalo.
Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 21-4-3 (.804) in back-ends. This is by far the best record of any NHL team in back-ends during this stretch. Tampa Bay has the next best record: 19-8-3 (.683).
Series
The Isles are playing the same opponent in consecutive games sixteen times this season (including three-game stretches vs. the Sabres, Devils, Flyers, and Capitals).
In two-game series, the Isles are 4-5-2 in the first game and 4-6-1 in the second game:
NYR (W/L), NJ (W/L), WAS (L/L), PHI (Lot/Lot), BUF(W/W), PIT (L/L), PIT (Lot/W), PIT (L/L), NYR (L/Wot), BOS (L/L), NYR (W/W)
In three-game series, the Isles are 2-1-1 in the first game, 3-1-0 in the second game, and 3-1-0 in the third:
BUF (W/W/W), NJ (W/W/W), PHI (L/W/Wot), WAS (Lso/L/L)
Tired vs. Rested
• The Isles are 5-2-1 when both teams played the night before.
• The Isles are 1-2-0 when they are rested, and their opponents are not.
• The Isles are 0-0-0 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.
• The Isles are 25-11-4 when both teams are rested.
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Ryan Pulock (21:09); Rangers: Adam Fox (22:30)
Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 19:27 of ice-time.
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Nick Leddy (9-5-1), Ryan Pulock (16-7-3), Scott Mayfield (1-1-0), Mathew Barzal (1-1-1), Adam Pelech (4-1-0).
Face-offs
Isles 17, Rangers 18 (49%)
JG Pageau won 4 of 6 for the Isles; Filip Chytil won 4 of 5 for the Rangers.
The Isles are 19-8-2 when they win more face-offs than the opposition, 0-4-1 when they are tied, and 12-5-1 when they win fewer.
Hit Count
Isles 27 (Cal Clutterbuck -7)
Rangers 23 (Three with 4)
Fights
There were no fights. Season total: 5 (Martin -2, Cizikas -1, Wahlstrom -1, Johnston-1)
Blocked Shots
Isles 17 (Scott Mayfield -4)
Rangers 12 (Three with 2)
For the Analytics Crowd
Corsi: All situations: Isles 53, Rangers 56
Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 50, Rangers 45
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Noah Dobson +9
Rangers: K'Andre Miller +10
High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)
All situations: Isles 3, Rangers 4
5-on-5: Isles 2, Rangers 4
Scratches
Sebastian Aho, Cory Schneider, (Anders Lee-LTIR), Ross Johnston, Braydon Coburn, Michael Dal Colle, Brian Bellows
Games Lost: 56
COVID Games Lost -6
250-Game Club
The Isles have two players who have active consecutive game streaks of at least 250 games, and they are two of just thirteen players in the NHL whose streak began no later than the start of the 2017-18 season.
Ironman Streaks: Brock Nelson 296, Mathew Barzal 283, Ryan Pulock 246. All three players have appeared in every game since Barry Trotz became the Isles' coach.
Iron Man
Brock Nelson has the longest active streak (and the 3rd -longest in club history); Mathew Barzal is 6th on this list while Ryan Pulock is tied-8th:
1. Billy Harris 10/7/1972 -11/30/1979 576 (*)
2. Bobby Nystrom 1/7/1975 - 11/25/1978 301
3. Brock Nelson 3/16/2017 – CURRENT 296
4. Anders Lee 1/26/2017 – 3/13/2021 295
5. Matt Moulson 10/3/2009 - 4/4/2013 284
6. Mathew Barzal 10/6/2017- CURRENT 283
7. Denis Potvin 11/29/1975 - 1/17/1979 262
8. Ryan Pulock 12/29/2017 – CURRENT 246
John Tavares 10/16/2010 - 12/23/2013 246
10. J.P. Parise 1/7/1975 – 1/7/1978 240 (**)
(*) Start of NHL career.
(**) Entire career with Islanders
Pulock's streak is the 2nd-longest by an Islander defenseman, trailing only Denis Potvin's 262-game streak.
Challenges
Isles: 1 successful, 0 failures
The Isles are 1-0-0 in games that they are successful and 0-0-0 in games that they are unsuccessful.(offsides 2/16 @BUF)
Opponents: 1 successful, 1 failure (goalie interference 1/14 @ NYR, no goalie interference 3/11 vs NJ)
The Isles are 1-0-0 in games where opponents' challenges go their way and 1-0-0 in games that go the opponents' way.
Last Minute Heroes:
The Isles have scored one goal and allowed four goals in the final three minutes of the third period that were either the winning goal or forced overtime:
For: 1 [Anders Lee, 2/6/21 vs PIT (17:14) -winning goal]
Vs: 4 [Justin Schultz, 1/26/21 @ WSH (19:33)-winning goal; Evgeni Malkin, 2/11/21 vs PIT (19:42) – tying goal/PIT won in OT; Oskar Lindblom, 3/18/21 vs PHI (17:38)-winning goal; Anders Bjork, 3/25/21 vs BOS (17:54) – tying goal/Isles won in OT]
All-time Islander Leader Boards:
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 914…
13. Stefan Persson 622 *** 14. Matt Martin 611 *** 15. Frans Nielsen 606 *** 16. Brock Nelson 599 *** 17. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 18. Garry Howatt 596 *** 19. John Tonelli 594 *** 20. Casey Cizikas 585 …
27. Kyle Okposo 529 *** 28. Cal Clutterbuck 524 *** 29. Anders Lee 520 *** 30. Dave Lewis 514 *** 31. Nick Leddy 513
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
11. John Tonelli 206 *** 12. Billy Harris and Anders Lee 184 *** 14. Ziggy Palffy 168 *** 15. Brock Nelson 166 *** 16. Josh Bailey 162
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 ***
4. Clark Gillies 359 *** 5. John Tavares 349 *** 6. Josh Bailey 346 …
17. Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen 230 *** 19.Nick Leddy 196
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1,353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1,126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1,052…
9. Bob Bourne 542 *** 10. Bob Nystrom 513 *** 11. Josh Bailey 508…
20. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 21. Brock Nelson 324 *** 22. Anders Lee 320
Games Coached
1. Al Arbour 1,500 *** 2. Jack Capuano 483 *** 3. Barry Trotz 201
Coaching Wins
1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 114
On the Farm
Bridgeport is 7-13-2-0 on the season (4-6-1-0 vs. Hartford and 3-7-1-0 vs. Providence) and have earned at least a point in each their last five games (4-0-1).
Bridgeport returns to action on Monday afternoon when they host the Bruins in the home finale; they will conclude the season the following afternoon in Hartford.
Season Series Stats
The Isles win the season series 6 games to 2 (and 12 points to 5).
The Isles are 6-2-0 while the Rangers are 2-5-1.
The Isles are 3-1-0 at the Coliseum vs. the Rangers and 3-1-0 at the Garden. The six wins against the Rangers matches the club record, set in 1981-82.
Over the last six seasons, the Isles are 20-7-1 against the Rangers (10-3-1 at home(s), 10-4-0 on the road).
This was the final Islander-Ranger games to be contested at the Coliseum. The Isles went 67-51-8-5 in the regular season and 10-9 in the playoffs against the Rangers at the Coli.
UP NEXT
MONDAY, MAY 3rd –ISLANDERS AT BUFFALO 7:00pm
[MSG+2 [pre-game at 6:30], WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, WNYM 970]
The Isles head to Buffalo for their final back-to-back of the season as they face the Sabres on both Monday and Tuesday.
The Isles will be looking to continue their season-long success against the Sabres, having won each of the first six meetings of the season by a combined score of 24-9. However, the Sabres have played much better under interim coach Don Granato, who will be facing the Isles for the first time.
The Isles have won nine straight games from Buffalo, including three straight in Western New York.
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
The Isles have killed 30 of the last 31 opponent power plays (96.8%) and have scored a shorthanded goal in that span as well; the Isles have also killed 45 of 49 at home this season (91.8%)…
