"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 3
Isles 6, Phoenix 1
John Tavares converted a 5-on-3 for his first goal of the season (and first of two on the night), and it proved to be the winning tally as the Islanders pounded the Phoenix Coyotes 6-1 before 10,288 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Peter Regin and Matt Donovan each scored their first goals in an Islander jersey while Colin McDonald and Josh Bailey each added their first goals of the season as the Isles earned their most one-sided Coliseum win in 32 months.
The Scoring:
1st Period
01:49 NYI P. Regin (1) Wrist shot - ASST: B. Nelson (1) 1 - 0 NYI
15:07 NYI PPG - J. Tavares (1) Snap shot - ASST: F. Nielsen (2), K. Okposo (1) 2 - 0 NYI
2nd Period
11:47 NYI PPG - M. Donovan (1) Snap shot - ASST: P. Regin (1), J. Bailey (2) 3 - 0 NYI
12:30 PHX M. Hanzal (1) Slapshot - ASST: M. Boedker (1), R. Vrbata (1) 3 - 1 NYI
14:49 NYI J. Tavares (2) Wrist shot - ASST: M. Grabner (2), J. Bailey (3) 4 - 1 NYI
17:24 NYI C. McDonald (1) Wrist shot - ASST: F. Nielsen (3), M. Grabner (3) 5 - 1 NYI
3rd Period
12:19 NYI J. Bailey (1) Snap shot - ASST: F. Nielsen (4), M. Grabner (4) 6 - 1 NYI
The Skinny:
The one-sided win ends a streak of six regular season games dating back to last season having been decided by one goal – including five in shootouts…Tavares' goals were his 113th and 114th as an Islander, retaking the club lead among current players (Matt Moulson has 113); it was his 20th multi-goal game of his career…Frans Nielsen had three assists, giving him 201 career points; Nielsen now has 140 assists, retaking the club lead among current players (John Tavares has 139)….Michael Grabner recorded three assists in a game for the first time in his career… Peter Regin and Matt Donovan are the 329th and 330th players to ever score a goal for the Islanders; Brock Nelson earned his first career point with an assist on Regin's goal…The Isles have outscored their opponents 6-2 in the second period….The Isles are 10-1-5 in their last sixteen regular season games.
First Times in a Long Time (x 6)
- · The Isles' 2-0-1 start gives them at least five points in the first three games for the first time since they were 3-0-0 (en route to a 4-0-0 and 9-0-1-1 start) in 2001-2002.
- · The Isles are 11 games over all-time NHL .500 for the first time since November 4, 2010.
- · The Isles' 6-1 win marked their most one-sided home victory since their famous 9-3 victory over Pittsburgh on February 11, 2011
- · Peter Regin's goal was his first since December 13, 2011 (for Ottawa, at Buffalo). It was his 20th career goal.
- · The Isles are over .500 at home (1-0-1) for the first time since March 4, 2012.
- · Three Islanders each had three points (Grabner, Bailey, Nielsen). It's the first time since January 10, 2012 vs. Detroit (Tavares, Moulson, and Streit) that the Isles have had three players with at least three points in the same game.
The Shots:
Isles 6-14- 8=28
Coyotes 7-17-10=34
Home and Road
The Islanders are 2-0-1 overall, 1-0-1 at home and 1-0-0 on the road.
The Coyotes are 1-2-0 overall, 1-0-0 at home and 0-2-0 on the road.
In the Nets
Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves to improve to 2-0-1 on the season. Nabokov lowered his goals against average to 1.89. Nabokov is 23-13-5 in his career against Phoenix.
Mike Smith made 15 saves for Phoenix over two periods but falls to 3-1-0 against the Isles. Thomas Greiss made his Coyotes debut in the third period and finished with seven saves.
Power Plays
The Islanders were 2-6 while the Coyotes were 0-3. The first power play goal came on a 5-on-3; the Isles scored only two 5-on-3 goals all last season.
The Isles are 1-0-1 when they score at least one power play goal and 1-0-0 when they do not.
The Isles are 0-0-1 when they allow at least one power play goal and 2-0-0 when they do not.
Second to The One
Jack Capuano is now 2nd on the all-time Islander list in both games coached (198) and wins (86). He will coach his 200th game on Saturday in Nashville.
Most wins by Islander coaches:
1. Al Arbour 740
2. Jack Capuano 86
3. Terry Simpson 81
4. Peter Laviolette 77
5. Ted Nolan 74
Most games coached (Islanders):
1. Al Arbour 1,500
2. Jack Capuano 198
3. Mike Milbury 191
4. Terry Simpson 187
5. Scott Gordon 181
They Said It
Matt Donovan: "Unbelievable feeling…I'm sure I have a lot of texts from a lot of family and friends that are excited for me that watched the game back home. It's a good feeling. Kids grow up hoping and wishing for that day to come that you score your first NHL goal, and it's a pretty cool feeling."
They Tweeted It
@Harry4naris it was an engaged crowd, sections between the goal lines were full, more games like this = bigger crowds
The Coach
"That's how we want to play. We want to play fast. That's the style this team wants to play. I sensed the attitude and the positivity on the bench with our guys. We want to keep pushing against a good hockey team. I thought we did that."
Head of the Class
John Tavares has 253 career points; he is 62 points ahead of Matt Duchene for most among 2009 draft picks. No other player in that draft is anywhere close. Tavares also has more goals and more assists than any other player in that draft.
119 NHL Goals
Moulson has 119 career goals (113 as an Islander). While 262 players were selected before the Penguins chose Moulson in the 2003 entry draft, only 16 have more goals.
Leading Ice Men
Andrew Mac Donald played 23:25 to lead the Isles for the third straight game. Oliver Ekman-Larsson led Phoenix with 23:27.
The Isles are 2-0-1 when MacDonald leads them in ice-time.
In the Circle
The Islanders won 29 of 56 draws. Peter Regin 9 of 13 to lead the Isles while Mike Ribiero won 7 of 12 for Phoenix. The Isles won 24 of 39 draws over the first two periods, but only 5 of 17 in the third period.
Heavy Hitters
The Islanders were out-hit 34-15, including an unusual 15-1 in the second period. Casey Cizikas led the Isles with five hits. There were no fights.
Giving Up the Body
The Isles were credited with 7 blocked shots; Travis Hamonic (with 2) was the only Isles to block more than one.
All–time Winners
The Islanders are now 11 games over all-time NHL .500 (1373-1362-440 in 3,175 games). The Isles have finished every season since 1977-78 above all-time NHL .500.
Ironmen
John Tavares is the reigning Islanders' ironman. Tavares has now played in 210 consecutive games.
Frans Nielsen (133) and Kyle Okposo (116) also have streaks of at least 100 consecutive games.
Longest Consecutive Game Streaks, Post Cup Era
· Matt Moulson 10/3/2009- 4/4/2013 284
· Richard Park 10/5/2006 – 2/18/2009 221
· Bryan McCabe 10/7/1995-2/4/1998 220
· Bryan Trottier 3/7/1981- 1/12/1984 219
· Mariusz Czerkawski 12/23/1999 – 4/14/2002 215
· John Tavares 10/16/10 – CURRENT 210
Missing Men
Griffin Reinhart, Eric Boulton and Matt Carkner were scratched for the third straight game. Cal Clutterbuck remains on injured reserve. The Isles have lost three games this season due to injury.
Career Wins, Active Goalies
Career Wins
19. Gump Worsley 335
20. Nikolai Khabibulin 332
Career Shutouts, Active Goalies
Career Shutouts
18 Clint Benedict 57
19 Evgeni Nabokov 55
20 Bernie Parent 54
20 Ed Giacomin 54
Career Goals as an Islander
| 21 | Ray Ferraro | 116 |
| 22 | John Tavares | 114 |
| 23 | Matt Moulson | 113 |
| 24 | Benoit Hogue | 105 |
| 24 | Ed Westfall | 105 |
| | | |
| Career Assists as an Islander | ||
| 24 | Mariusz Czerkawski | 150 |
| 25 | Travis Green | 145 |
| 26 | Frans Nielsen | 140 |
| 26 | Steve Thomas | 140 |
| 28 | John Tavares | 139 |
| 28 | Mark Streit | 139 |
| 29 | Greg Gilbert | 138 |
| 31 | Jason Blake | 131 |
Career Games as an Islander (skaters)
| 39 | Randy Wood | 381 |
| 40 | Frans Nielsen | 370 |
| 41 | Dave Scatchard | 347 |
| 44 | Marty McInnis | 337 |
| 45 | Josh Bailey | 332 |
| 45 | Robert Goring | 332 |
| 45 | Oleg Kvasha | 332 |
| 48 | Bruno Gervais | 331 |
| 48 | Zigmund Palffy | 331 |
| 50 | Shawn Bates | 330 |
| 51 | Eric Cairns | 327 |
| 52 | Alan Kerr | 326 |
| 53 | Kyle Okposo | 322 |
| 54 | Brad Dalgarno | 321 |
| 55 | Ray Ferraro | 316 |
| 55 | Steve Webb | 316 |
| 55 | Richard Park | 316 |
| 58 | Gerald Diduck | 314 |
| 59 | Mikko Makela | 307 |
| 60 | Gordon Lane | 304 |
| 61 | Arron Asham | 300 |
| 61 | Roman Hamrlik | 300 |
| 63 | Matt Moulson | 296 |
| 64 | John Tavares | 294 |
| 65 | Gordon Dineen | 287 |
| | | |
Career Points as an Islander
| 20 | Ed Westfall | 286 |
| 21 | Jason Blake | 258 |
| 21 | Steve Thomas | 258 |
| 23 | John Tavares | 253 |
| 24 | David Volek | 249 |
| 29 | Benoit Hogue | 221 |
| 29 | Trent Hunter | 221 |
| 31 | Mikko Makela | 219 |
| 32 | Matt Moulson | 215 |
| 33 | Mark Parrish | 214 |
| 34 | Garry Howatt | 213 |
| 34 | Jean Potvin | 213 |
| 36 | Anders Kallur | 211 |
| 37 | Frans Nielsen | 201 |
| 38 | Marty McInnis | 198 |
| 39 | Wayne Merrick | 197 |
| 40 | Robert Goring | 195 |
| 41 | Jeffrey Norton | 188 |
| 42 | Kyle Okposo | 186 |
| 43 | Lorne Henning | 184 |
Season Series Stats
The Isles lead the season series one game to none (and two points to none) with one game to play. The teams will also play on December 12th in Glendale.
The Isles are 3-0-1 in their last four games at the Coliseum vs. Phoenix and are 5-2-3 against the Coyotes on Long Island since the original Winnipeg Jets relocated to the desert. The six goals were the most the Isles have scored against Phoenix since an 8-2 win over the 'Yotes on December 10, 1996.
Happy Anniversary
30 years ago tonight (10-7-83): Bob Bourne scored a power play goal 2:01 into overtime as the Islanders rallied from a 5-1 deficit for an 8-7 win over the Capitals in Landover. It was the first overtime goal scored in a regular season NHL game since 1942, when overtime had been eliminated due to war time restrictions.
All-time, the Isles are 5-5-2 on this date, including a 1-1 tie in Kansas City in 1975 in Bryan Trottier's NHL debut.
On The Farm
Bridgeport split a pair of games to open their season. Andrey Pedan and Ryan Strome each have earned three points to share the scoring lead, while Anders Nilsson is 1-1-0 with a 3.84 GAA in nets. Bridgeport host Manchester (Saturday at 7) and Springfield (Sunday at 3) this weekend.
Up Next
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11th—ISLANDERS AT CHICAGO 8:00PM
[MSG+ (Islanders pre-game at 7:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN-FM]
The Islanders head to Chicago to face the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks on Friday night as they begin a two-game round trip. It will be the first time that the Isles have faced the reigning champion since they faced Boston on March 31, 2012.
[MSG+ (Islanders pre-game at 7:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN-FM]
The Islanders head to Chicago to face the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks on Friday night as they begin a two-game round trip. It will be the first time that the Isles have faced the reigning champion since they faced Boston on March 31, 2012.
This is the first of two meetings between the teams, who have not played since facing each other twice in a one week period in December, 2011. The Hawks defeated the Isles in a shootout on December 2nd and then defeated the Isles in overtime six nights later.
The Isles are 6-1-2 in their last nine games against Chicago, including 3-1-1 in their last five visits to the Windy City.
Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since 1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various sources. Follow Eric @ehornick on Twitter.
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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