"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 45
Isles 5, Toronto 3
The Islanders got goals from five different players for the second straight night and John Tavares added three assists as the Isles completed a sweep of back-to-backs with a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs before a sellout crowd of 19,164 at Air Canada Center. The Isles have won five straight on the road for the first time since 2001.
The Scoring:
1st Period
05:05 TOR Tyler Bozak (6) Tip-in - ASST: Paul Ranger (7), James van Riemsdyk (16) 1 - 0 TOR
19:16 NYI Kyle Okposo (17) Wrist shot - ASST: John Tavares (32), Travis Hamonic (7) 1 - 1 Tie
2nd Period
03:06 NYI Michael Grabner (6) Wrap-around - ASST: NONE 2 - 1 NYI
08:25 TOR PPG - Mason Raymond (12) Snap - ASST: Jake Gardiner (11), Nazem Kadri (13) 2 - 2 Tie
3rd Period
03:41 NYI PPG - Frans Nielsen (16) Snap shot - ASST: Thomas Vanek (22), John Tavares (33) 3 - 2 NYI
06:01 NYI Calvin de Haan (1) Slapshot - ASST: Travis Hamonic (8), John Tavares (34) 4 - 2 NYI
16:55 TOR Joffrey Lupul (13) Wrist shot - ASST: Nazem Kadri (14) 4 - 3 NYI
19:51 NYI EN - Cal Clutterbuck (6) Wrist shot - ASST: Michael Grabner (8) 5 - 3 NYI
The Skinny:
Thomas Vanek extended his point streak to ten games, a career high. Vanek (6-9-15) has the longest current streak in the NHL…John Tavares (7-8-15) extended his point streak to 6 games … Andrew Mac Donald's assist streak ended at five games… The Isles have allowed an NHL-high 63 goals in the second period this season, but they have now scored 56 goals in the frame themselves (2nd in NHL)… The Isles are 9-1-0 when they score at least three goals in a period; they have had a three-goal period in each of their last five regulation wins…It's the second time this season that the Isles have swept a set of back-to-back games (November 1st in Ottawa, November 2nd vs Boston)…Tyler Bozak extended his point streak to four games with a first period goal for Toronto…Travis Hamonic had two assists for the second time this season… The win moves the Isles within seven points of a playoff spot, with 37 games still to play…Cal Clutterbuck's empty net goal was only the 2nd for the Isles this season. Clutterbuck and Michael Grabner remain tied for 5th on the team in goals…Frans Nielsen is one goal away from matching his career high (17 in 2011-12)…The Isles have outscored their opponents 11-3 in the third period over the last six games.
Making Elliana Proud
Kyle Okposo scored the first Islander goal, in his first period since welcoming daughter Elliana to the world on Monday.
The Captain
John Tavares tied Patrick Kane for second place in NHL scoring with 54 points. Tavares, who had five points on Monday, now has eight points in a 2-game stretch for the second time in his career (October 13-15, 2011). Tavares leads the NHL in points outside his own division with 40 (Ryan Getzlaf 37, Sidney Crosby 36). Tavares was also +3 for the second straight game and is now +2 on the season; it's only the second time in his career he has gone +3 in consecutive games (4/1-4/3/2010). Tavares now has gone +3 or better 12 times in his NHL career; nine of those games were at the Coliseum and the other three were in Canada (twice in Toronto and once in Vancouver). Tavares is now 25-35-60 in 51 career January games.
Tavares Milestone Points
· 100th point 2/13/11 @ Buffalo (135th game)
· 200th point 4/3/12 @ New Jersey (241st game)
· 300th point 1/6/14 vs Dallas (334th game)
First Times in a Long Time
John Tavares is the first Islander since Josh Bailey (3/27-3/29/12, both vs Pittsburgh) to record eight points in a two-game span. (No Islander has had nine points in two games since Robert Reichel did so in 1997)
The Islanders have won 5 straight road games for the first time since October 2001, when the Isles won their first six road games under Peter Laviolette.
The Islanders have scored 5 goals in each of the last three road games. It's the first time that they have done that since a 4-game stretch in January, 1993:
· 8-Jan-93 @ Buffalo 5 6 L
· 16-Jan-93 @ New Jersey 5 3 W
· 17-Jan-93 @ Ottawa 7 2 W
· 28-Jan-93 @ Pittsburgh 5 2 W
The Isles have scored 23 goals over the last 5 road games for the first time since also scoring 23 goals in five games from March 15-25, 2003. They have not scored more than 23 in a five game stretch on the road since January 8-February 3, 1993.
First Time … Ever
Calvin deHaan recorded his first NHL goal (in his 20th NHL game). He is the 339th Islander to score a goal. deHaan now has three points in the last two games.
Four Islanders Named to Olympic Teams
To no one's surprise, John Tavares was named to Team Canada today for the upcoming Olympics. NHL.com has Tavares' call to his parents here: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=53&id=531496
Thomas Vanek and Michael Grabner were both named to the Austrian team, while the injured Lubomir Visnovsky was selected by Slovakia.
The Shots:
Isles 11-8-6=25
Leafs 14-8-4=26
Home and Road
The Islanders are 16-22-7 overall, 7-9-7 at home and 9-13-0 on the road. The Isles are 8-4-2 in their last fourteen games overall.
The Leafs are 21-18-5 overall; they are 14-10-1 at home and 7-8-4 on the road. The Leafs have lost consecutive home games to the Rangers and Islanders after going 4-0-2 in their prior six.
By Division
The Isles are 3-10-3 in Division games and are 13-12-4 in games against other divisions. They are 6-3-3 vs. the Atlantic Division, 4-4-0 vs. Central Division, and 3-5-1 vs. the
Pacific Division.
In the Nets
Kevin Poulin made 23 saves and improves to 7-12-0 on the season. He has won his last three decisions (for the first time in his NHL career) and is 4-1-0 in his last five games.
Jonathan Bernier made 20 saves for Toronto but falls to 13-13-4.
Power Plays
(Note: after the Leafs game, the NHL made an official correction to the stats from the Dallas game, causing the changes in the numbers below)
(Note: after the Leafs game, the NHL made an official correction to the stats from the Dallas game, causing the changes in the numbers below)
The Islanders were 1-1 while the Leafs were 1-5.
The Isles are 10-6-4 when they score at least one power play goal and 6-16-3 when they do not. The Isles are 8-14-3 when they allow at least one power play goal and 8-8-4 when they do not.
The Islander special teams have improved as of late. The power play is 11-3233 (33.3% 34.4%) over the last eleven games while the Isles have killed 27 26 of 33 32 (81.3%81.8%) over the last 12 games while scoring two shorthanded goals. .
The Isles have scored power play goal in three consecutive games for the first time since October (5-9, 55.6% 5-8, 62.5%) and are 9-18 19 with the advantage in the last five games (50.0%47.4%). It's the first time since October, 2006 that the Isles have converted nine power play goals in a five game stretch (single season).
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 16-4-2 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 0-18-5 when they do not.
Helps to Score First
The Isles are 9-5-5 when they score first and are 7-17-2 when they allow the opening goal.
Second to The One
Jack Capuano became the 2nd coach in Islander history to win 100 games. He is 2nd on the all-time Islander list in both games coached (240) and wins (100).
Most games coached (Islanders):
1. Al Arbour 1,500
2. Jack Capuano 240
3. Mike Milbury 191
4. Terry Simpson 187
5. Scott Gordon 181
Most wins by Islander coaches:
1. Al Arbour 740
2. Jack Capuano 100
3. Terry Simpson 81
4. Peter Laviolette 77
5. Ted Nolan 74
They Said It
John Tavares: "It was a good win. Not our prettiest game, or our best game, but for the circumstances of getting here late last night and playing a team that was fresh, we did a good job of staying with it and taking advantage of our opportunities."
They Tweeted It
@91Butch #isles congrats to Calvin De Haan on his 1st NHL goal. Love the way he continues to progress as a pro. He seems to be a fit with Harmonic
@anzyyyyyy A little late but isles fans, we've seen this before, it's coming baby #isles #beLIeve cuz these players sure do 🔶🔷
@Islanders10940 #isles have the talent and theyve shown it over the last 10 games. Its just a matter of them showing it. This team can make plyfs
@PHess22 John Tavares may be the best professional athlete in NY right now. #Isles
@GriffinReinhart Was able to watch the #isles game on tv for a change and it was a good one. Also congrats @91Tavares on making team Canada #goisles #goCan
The Coach
I liked the way (deHaan) is responding…it's always good to get your first goal….I thought Kevin Poulin did a good job for us as well….Didn't even know (it was his 100th win).
Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 5-6-0 in the front-end and 4-5-2 on the back end of back-to-backs this season.
In the eleven sets of back-to-backs, they have earned 4 points twice, 3 points once, 2 points four times, 1 point once and no points on three occasions.
The next set of back-to-backs will be on January 20th-21st as they will host Philadelphia before visiting the Rangers.
Head of the Class
John Tavares has 303 career points; he is 72 points ahead of Matt Duchene for most among 2009 draft picks. No other player from that draft is anywhere close. Tavares also has more goals and more assists than any other player from that draft.
Leading Ice Men
Travis Hamonic played 28:21 to lead the Isles for the 18th time this season. Cody Franson led the Leafs with 23:42 of ice-time.
The Isles are 10-12-5 when MacDonald leads them in ice-time and 6-10-2 when Hamonic leads them.
In the Circle
The Islanders won 24 of 62 draws. Toronto native Casey Cizikas won 8 of 15 to lead the Isles but his teammates won only 16 of 47; Nazem Kadri won 11 of 14 for the Leafs.
Heavy Hitters
The Isles were out-hit 32-28. Matt Martin had five hits to share the team for the Isles; his 215 hits lead the NHL by a wide margin. He had now recorded at least 200 hits in four straight seasons. Calvin deHaan also had five hits. The Leafs lead the NHL in hits by a team with 1495.
There were no fights. The Isles have been involved in 15 fights this season: Martin (6), Boulton (4), Carkner (4), McDonald (1). Toronto has been involved in 29 fights, sharing the NHL lead with Philadelphia.
Giving Up the Body
The Isles were credited with 10 blocked shots. Andrew MacDonald was credited with two blocks, extending his NHL-leading total to 150. Michael Grabner also had two.
Three Over All-Time .500
The Islanders improve to three games over all-time NHL .500 (1387-1384-446 in 3,217 games) for the first time since November 27th. The Isles have been 1-under all-time .500 after six games this season and have gone 4-0-2 in the following game.
The Isles have finished every season since 1977-78 above all-time NHL .500 and have not been more than 1 game under NHL-.500 since January 11, 1978.
Ironmen
Frans Nielsen is the Islanders' reigning ironman. He has played 175 consecutive games, and is one of five Islanders to have played in every game this season. Other ironman streaks: Travis Hamonic (115), Matt Martin (106), Andrew Mac Donald (93) and Thomas Hickey (46).
Century Club
Travis Hamonic is the only defenseman in Islander history with two streaks in which he played at least 100 consecutive games. Those are two of only 10 streaks of at least 100 consecutive games by a defenseman in Islander history:
1. Denis Potvin 11/29/1975-1/17/1979 262
2. Bryan McCabe 10/7/1995-2/4/1998 220 (*)(**)
3. Gerry Hart 3/1/1975-11/22/1977 198
4. Janne Niinimaa 3/13/2004-1/7/2006 136 (**)
5. Ken Morrow 3/1/1980-12/29/1981 134 (*)
6. Mark Streit 10/8/2011-4/26/2013 130
7. Travis Hamonic 2/24/2012- CURRENT 115
8. Travis Hamonic 11/24/2010 – 2/4/2012 113 (*)
9. Jean Potvin 10/23/1975-1/2/1977 110
10. Kenny Jonsson 12/26/1996-2/4/1998 104
(*) Start of NHL career.
(**) Entire career with Islanders
Missing Men
Lubomir Visnovsky and Radek Martinek remain on injured reserve and have been joined by Evgeni Nabokov. Kyle Okposo returned after missing Monday's game due to the birth of his daughter, replacing Peter Regin. Matt Carkner and Eric Boulton took Matt Donovan's and Colin MacDonald's spots in the line-up. Anders Nilsson returned to the team and served as the back-up goaltender. The Isles have lost 116 games this season due to injury.
Nobody Beats the Viz
The Isles were 19-12-4 last season and are 3-3-2 this season with Lubomir Visnovsky in the lineup. They were 5-5-3 last season and are 13-19-5 this season without him in the lineup.
Career Goals as an Islander
|
15 Mariusz Czerkawski 145
16 John Tavares 132
17 Jason Blake 127
34 Kyle Okposo 89
35 Butch Goring 87
36 Tomas Jonsson 84
37 Wayne Merrick 81
37 Dave Scatchard 81
39 Marty McInnis 79
40 Miroslav Satan 78
41 Michael Grabner 76
41 Frans Nielsen 76
41 Claude Lapointe 76
44 Lorne Henning 73
44 J.P. Parise 73
Career Assists as an Islander
|
18 Alexei Yashin 171
18 Duane Sutter 171
18 John Tavares 171
21 Jean Potvin 167
22 Jeff Norton 166
23 Zigmund Palffy 163
24 David Volek 154
24 Frans Nielsen 154
26 Mariusz Czerkawski 150
Career Games as an Islander (skaters)
|
24 Eddie Westfall 493
25 Radek Martinek 476
25 Gerry Hart 476
27 Mariusz Czerkawski 470
32 Dave Langevin 422
33 Frans Nielsen 412
34 Wayne Merrick 411
35 Jean Potvin 402
36 David Volek 396
37 Bert Marshall 392
38 Travis Green 388
39 Anders Kallur 383
40 Randy Wood 381
41 Josh Bailey 369
42 Kyle Okposo 363
43 Dave Scatchard 347
46 Marty McInnis 337
47 John Tavares 335
48 Butch Goring 332
48 Oleg Kvasha 332
Career Points as an Islander
|
16 Ziggy Palffy 331
17 John Tavares 303
18 Mariusz Czerkawski 295
27 Kenny Jonsson 232
28 Greg Gilbert 231
29 Frans Nielsen 230
30 Benoit Hogue 229
30 Trent Hunter 229
32 Kyle Okposo 228
33 Matt Moulson 223
Season Series Stats
The Isles even the season series 1 game to 1 (and two points to two). The teams will play again on February 27th at the Coliseum in the first game after the Olympic break.
The Isles are 4-1-0 in their last five trips to Toronto and are 4-1-2 in their last seven games overall against Toronto.
Happy Anniversary
22 years ago tonight (1-7-92): Ray Ferraro recorded his only 4-goal game as an Islander (in regular season play as the Isles pounded Detroit 5-2. Steve Weeks made 35 saves for the Isles.
Overall, the Isles are 9-10-0 on this date, with their win tonight being their first since a Dave Scatchard hat trick game against Pittsburgh in 2003.
On The Farm
Bridgeport is 13-18-1-4 on the season and are off until Friday when they visit Manchester.
Anders Lee leads Bridgeport with 13 goals; Lee also leads current Sound Tigers in both assists (13) and points (26). Ryan Strome still leads the team in assists (24) and points (33).
Up Next
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10th —ISLANDERS AT COLORADO 9:00PM
[MSG+ (Islanders pre-game at 8:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN-FM]
[MSG+ (Islanders pre-game at 8:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN-FM]
It's game two of the six-game road trip as the Islanders visit the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night in the first meeting of the teams this season.
The Isles are 7-0-3 in their last 10 games since Patrick Roy, now the Avs Head Coach, blanked them 1-0 on November 16, 2001.
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.
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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