The Skinny: Thrashers 2, Isles 1

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 75
Atlanta 2, Isles 1

Former Islander Rob Schremp scored the winning goal on a second period power
play and the Atlanta Thrashers held the Isles to only seven shots in the first
two periods, and fifteen shots in the game, as they defeated the Islanders 2-1,
before 11,874 at the Nassau Coliseum. It's only the second time in the last 12
games [6-2-4] that the Isles have been beaten in regulation.

Well Done, Ladd
Andrew Ladd converted a Blake Wheeler pass for the only goal of the first period
and his 27th goal of the season. The Thrashers outshot the Isles 12-3 in the
first period.

Tavares Gets Isles Even
The Isles tied the game as a Travis Hamonic shot was tipped off the post by PA
Parenteau. John Tavares rifled the rebound home just 98 seconds into the second
period for his third goal in the last six games and his 27th goal of the season.
Schremp Gets the Winner
Schremp's 2nd goal as a Thrasher, and 12th goal of the season proved to be the
winner as he beat Al Montoya from the top of the left face-off circle at 13:56
of the second. The Islanders have outscored their opponents 83-78 in the middle
period; they have been outscored 122-154 in the rest of the game.
Scoreless Third
The Isles threatened late in the game, and spent the final 33 seconds with a
6-on-4 power play. However, they could not find the equalizer as the game
ended. 2-1 Final.
Top 5
The Islanders have five players with at least 18 goals: Grabner 31, Moulson 30,
Tavares 27, Comeau 20, and Parenteau 18. The quintet has combined for 126 of
the Islanders' 205 goals (61%) this season.
200 Shot Club
Michael Grabner continues to fire the puck. He had five shots on goal and now
has 209 shots on the season; the Islanders now have three players (Moulson and
Tavares) with 200 shots in a season for the first time since 2006-07 (Blake,
Satan and Yashin). He is the first Islander rookie with at least 200 shots in a
season since David Volek had 229 in 1988-89.
Grabner's Chase of the Record Books
Most Goals, Islander Rookie
1. Mike Bossy 53 (1977-78)
2. Bryan Trottier 32 (1975-76)
3. Michael Grabner 31 (2010-11)
Grabner needs one goal to tie Trottier for second place on the all-time rookie
goal scoring list.
Most Shots on Goal, Islander Rookie
1. Mike Bossy 235 (1977-78)
2. David Volek 229 (1988-89)
3. Denis Potvin 209 (1973-74)
4. Michael Grabner 209 (2010-11)
Grabner would need to average 3.9 shots per game to break Bossy's record.
Rookies Who Have Led Isles in Goals
1. Billy Harris - 28 in 1972-73,
2. Mike Bossy - 53 in 1977-78,
3. Trent Hunter -25 in 2003-04 (tied with Mariusz Czerkawski)
4. Kyle Okposo-18 in 2008-09.
Grabner currently has the team lead with 31.
Second-Half Surge
Despite the loss, the Islanders are 14-7-5 since the All-Star Break and are
24-16-7 in their last 47 games
A Great 14 Weeks
The Isles were 5-18-5 on the morning of December 16th. Since then, they are
24-16-7 for 55 points. Among Eastern Conference teams, only the Capitals
(25-10-6 for 56 points) have more points during that stretch.
Growing Up Together
The Islanders have had five players record their 100th career point, all of them
in Islander uniforms, this season.
· Frans Nielsen has 118 points (35-83-118), tops among healthy
Islanders.
· Blake Comeau has 116 career points (52-64-116).
· John Tavares had a goal and now has 115 points (51-64-115). He is the
youngest player in Islander history to record 50 goals and the second youngest
player (Bryan Trottier) to record 100 career points.
· Kyle Okposo's goal has 113 points (44-69-113).
· Veteran defender Radek Martinek has 100 career points (20-80-100)
With 229 points, Trent Hunter (injured) is the only player on the current roster
to have recorded more points in an Islander uniform.

Matt Moulson has 106 career points; however, his first ten points came as a
member of the Los Angeles Kings.

3 With 27
The Isles now have three players with at least 27 goals. Toronto is the only
other team with three 27 goal scorers.
Career Years
A number of Islanders are either close to or have assured themselves of career
years in key offensive categories:

(Unless otherwise noted, the career high was set last season)
Set New Career Highs
Tavares: 27 goals, 34 assists, 61 points (24-30-54 last season), 4 gw goals
(2)
Parenteau 18 goals, 31 assists, 49 points (3-5-8)
Grabner 31 goals, 17 assists, 48 points (5-6-11), 5 SH Goals (0)
Comeau 20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points (17-18-35), 4 pp goals (2 in 2008-09),
68 games (63)
Nielsen 31 assists (26),42 points (38), 6 SH goals (1)
Mac Donald 4 goals, 23 assists, 27 points (1-6-7)
Bailey 4 pp goals (3 -- twice)
Hillen 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points (3-12-15)
Konopka 75 games, 7 assists, 9 points (74 games, 3 twice , 7 in 2005-06)
Moulson 9 pp goals (8)
Jurcina 13 assists, 17 points (11 in 2008-09, 14 in 2008-09)

Tied Career High
Moulson 30-18-48 (30-18-48)

Approaching Career Highs
Nielsen 11 goals (12)
Konopka 245 penalty minutes (265)

Home and Road
The Isles are 29-34-12, and are 16-16-5 at home. They are 25-24-9 under Jack
Capuano, including 24-16-7 in the last 47. Their 70 points is nine more than
they managed in the entire 2008-09 season; they drop two points behind last
season's pace.

The Thrashers are 31-30-12, and are 15-16-5 on the road. The Thrashers were
22-15-6 in early January but are 9-15-6 since then.

Sharing the Wealth
The Isles are 24-16-7 in their last 47 games, and all six goalies that the Isles
have used this season have wins during that stretch (Montoya 8, DiPietro 5,
Roloson 4, Poulin 4, Koskinen 2, and Lawson 1).

In the Nets
Al Montoya made 32 saves from drops to 8-4-4 on the season. He is tied with
Rick DiPietro for the team lead in wins. Montoya has started ten of the last 11
games (6-2-2).

Chris Mason made 14 saves to improve to 11-10-3.

Power Plays
Atlanta entered the game with the NHL's worst penalty kill but the Islanders did
not get a shot on any of their power play and went 0-4 on the power play while
the Thrashers 1-3.

Fight Night
The game featured one scrap – Micheal Haley fought Mark Stuart. It was Haley's
fifth fight of the season. He now has 73 penalty minutes in 20 NHL games this
season.

Lots of Buff
Dustin Byufglien had five shots on goal. He also had four shots blocked by
Islanders and six shots that missed the target.

In the Circle
The Islanders won 29 of 54 (54%) face-offs. Zenon Konopka won 11 of 17.

Missing Men
The Isles announced on Tuesday that Mark Streit would not play this season, Mike
Mottau, Trent Hunter, Kevin Poulin and Mark Eaton are out for the season, and
Doug Weight remains out. Trevor Gillies served the final game of his 10-game
suspension. The Isles have lost 518 games to injury and 25 games to suspension
this season.

Ironmen
Matt Moulson, the Isles' reigning ironman, has played in all 157 games since
joining the team last season. Zenon Konopka is the only other Isle to have
played every game this season; his 87-game streak includes the final 12 games
last season for Tampa Bay. Travis Hamonic has now played 55 NHL games (all
consecutive); he has the longest consecutive game streak on defense for the
Isles.

Cappy's First 58
Jack Capuano drops to one game over NHL .500 with a 25-24-9 record. Only four
other coaches in Islander history who coached at least 50 games have at least a
.500 record (Al Arbour, Peter Laviolette, Steve Stirling, and Ted Nolan).
Capuano has earned 59 standings points – more than any coach in Islander history
who did not start the season behind the bench.

March to the Finish
The Isles are 6-2-4 in March. The 16 points in March is one shy of the 17 that
they earned in 2005-06. They have not earned more than 17 points in March since
1988 when they earned 19 points in March.

Season Series Stats
The Thrashers win the season series 3 games to one and seven points to two.
Atlanta sweeps the season series at the Coliseum for the second time in three
seasons; they are 4-1-1 in their last six trips to Long Island.

No Shot(s)
The 15 shots on goals are five fewer than the Isles have ever had against the
Thrashers. The Isles had only 20 shots in the first game ever between the
franchises, at the Coliseum on October 14, 1999. The 15 shots are the fewest
the Isles have had at home since having 14 shots on goal in a 2-1 win over
Anaheim on January 21, 2009.

Southeast Trouble
The Isles are 6-10-3 vs. the Southeast this season, but are 5-3-0 against
Florida (2-2-0) and Tampa (3-1-0). They have losing records against Atlanta
(1-2-1), Carolina (0-2-1), and Washington (0-3-1).

Happy Anniversary
30 years ago today (March 21, 1981): In a battle between the two leading teams
in the league, Bryan Trottier's hat trick leads the Isles to a 5-3 win in St.
Louis. The win gives the Isles 101 points, one fewer than the Blues. The Isles
would finish the season with a league-leading 110 points, en route to their
second consecutive Stanley Cup.
All-time, the Isles are 6-8-5 on this date.

Up Next
Saturday, March 26 vs. Philadelphia 7:00pm
[MSG+ (Subway Islanders Game Night at 6:30), WRHU 88.7FM]
In recent years, no opponent has frustrated the Isles as much as the
Philadelphia Flyers. The Isles are 1-15-4 against Philadelphia since February,
2008. This season the Flyers have won all four meetings, with the last three
games being decided by a single goal. The Flyers have won both Coliseum tilts
this season and are 9-1 in their last 10 trips to Long Island (Isles are 1-7-2
in same stretch).

Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since
1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various
sources.
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