First is worst

If the Isles are going to be a competitive team, they'll need to improve their first periods. The Isles have now been outscored 24-12 in the first period this season.

The 12 goals is by far the fewest in the NHL -- St. Louis, who has played two fewer games than the Islanders, have 17 first pd tallies.
The -12 differential is the second worst in the NHL -- Atlanta, who was outscored 3-1 by Ottawa in the first period on Saturday, is -13 in the first period.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick. Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, celebrated his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 3,044 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY. You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", to the left of Howie and Billy, at most Islander home games. For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org