With Okposo, every goal's a big goal

Kyle Okposo has only scored 7 goals this season, but it it seems like every goal has been a big goal, it's because they have been.

The Isles are 5-0-2 in the games that he has scored. 

He has connected for 4 game-winning goals (in Colorado, in OT at MSG, in OT at Carolina, and against the NYR at the Coliseum in October).  He also scored a 3rd period goal to force overtime in Florida on November 14th, a tying goal in Washington on October 30th, and a goal to bring the Isles within one in Ottawa on October 8th.

Eight of Okposo's 27 career goals (29.6%) have been game-winners. No other player in Islander history has scored as many as eight GWG on fewer career goals (Berard had 8 on 31).  No other player in Islander history has scored at least eight goals with a higher percentage of game winning goals (Berard 25.8%, Parrish 21.2%).

Ironically, two players who were considered to be clutch in their Islander days have the lowest percentage of game-winners (with at least 8 GWG).  Ten of Ray Ferraro's 116 goals were GWG (8.6%) while only eight of Duane Sutter's 121 (6.6%) were game winners.  Both players had higher GWG percentages in the playoffs as Islanders.

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