The Skinny: Isles 5, San Jose 3

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 8

Isles 5, San Jose 3

Anders Lee scored two goals and added an assist, and John Tavares recorded his second three-point game of the season as the Isles overcame a Logan Couture hat trick and defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-3 before an Alumni Night crowd of 11,877 at Barclays Center.

Josh Bailey had the prettiest goal of the night and added an assist as the Isles improved to 2-0-1 at home and went over NHL-.500 overall (4-3-1) for the first time this season.

The Scoring:

1ST PERIOD

No Scoring

2ND PERIOD

06:26 San Jose PPG - Logan Couture (4) ASST: Brent Burns (3), Joe Thornton (4) 0-1

07:33 New York Anders Lee (4) ASST: Nick Leddy (2), John Tavares (2) 1-1

08:31 New York Josh Bailey (3) 2-1

12:44 San Jose Logan Couture (5) ASST: Jannik Hansen (1), Brenden Dillon (3) 2-2

3RD PERIOD

03:12 New York Andrew Ladd (2) ASST: Mathew Barzal (2), Josh Bailey (3) 3-2

11:47 New York Anders Lee (5) ASST: John Tavares (3), Cal Clutterbuck (2) 4-2

18:08 San Jose Logan Couture (6) ASST: Brent Burns (4), Joe Thornton (5) 4-3

19:04 New York EN - John Tavares (3) ASST: Anders Lee (1), Calvin de Haan (4) 5-3

The Skinny: 

The Isles allowed the first goal for the 6th time in the first eight games… John Tavares snapped his 5-game pointless streak (longest since 2011) with three points; it was his 41st career 3-point game (matching his total from all last season…Tavares ended the night tied for the team lead in scoring with Anders Lee and Josh Bailey… The Isles used seven defensemen for the second time this season; the Isles improved to 6-0-0 under Doug Weight when dressing seven defensemen…Andrew Ladd, Mathew Barzal and Bailey combined for the lead goal in the third period; all three players extended point streaks to three…The Isles have outscored opponents 10-6 in the third period and have now scored three empty-net goals this season…Brent Burns had 8 shots on goal but went -3; he is only the second Shark to ever do that (Jonathan Cheechoo in 2007 vs Anaheim)…Burns is the 10th Isles opponent to have 8 shots and go -3 (or worse); however, prior to Burns only Guy LaPointe (12/27/79 for Montreal) and Marc Tardif (3/31/80 in Quebec) had ever had 8 shots and 2 points, with a rating of -3 or worse, in a game against the Isles…Calvin deHaan tied Jordan Eberle and Joshua Ho-Sang for the team lead in assists (4)…Anders Lee is now 7-2-9 in eight career games against San Jose; he has scored in 4 straight games against the Sharks and in all four of his career home games against the Sharks…With his two assists tonight, Joe Thornton is just one point behind Jari Kurri for 20th place on the all-time NHL point list.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night

The Isles are 3-0-0 on Saturday’s this season; they won only three Saturday games all last season (3-8-5).  (h/t Cord Lehman)

Over NHL-.500

The win pushes the Isles over NHL-.500 for the first time this season (4-3-1).  The Isles were not over NHL-.500 last season at any point until a 3-2 win over St. Louis on December 8th pushed their record to 11-10-5.   The Isles could move two games over NHL-.500 on Tuesday; a win on January 21st vs. Los Angeles was the first time last season that the Isles were two games over NHL-.500.

Tavares, Bourne and Tonelli

John Tavares played in his 595th Islander game, passing another JT (John Tonelli) for 16th in club history among Isles skaters. 

John Tavares is 238-305=543 in his Islander career, as compared to Bob Bourne's 238-304=542 totals.  He tied Bourne for 7th in goals, and passed Bourne for 9th in assists and 8th in points.  Tavares is just one point behind Tonelli for 7th place on the points list.

Passing Royalty

Anders Lee's first goal was his 88th as an Islander, passing Butch Goring for 38th on the team's all-time list. Lee, who matched his career high with two goals, also passed the 150-point mark (he now has 151). 

Tipping the Cap

Logan Couture recorded his second career hat trick, scoring a power play goal, and even strength goal, and a sixth attacker goal.  It was the first hat trick ever for a Shark against the Islanders.

It is the 139th hat trick allowed by the Islanders and the 19th time that the Isles have recorded a regulation win in a game they allowed a hat trick.  All-time, the Isles improve to 19-109-11 when allowing a hat trick. 

Coach Could Play, Too!

Tonight, in Tampa Bay, both Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov recorded points for the 9th straight game to start the season, becoming the first teammates to do so since Doug Weight and Pavel Dimitra did so for the 2001-02 St. Louis Blues.

The Shots

Isles          9-8-6=23

San Jose   6-9-16=31

The Isles are 1-1-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-0-0 when the shots are even, and 3-2-0 when they are outshot.

Offside Challenges

The Isles have challenged twice and been successful once.

10/10 vs STL Blues – unsuccessful; Isles killed ensuing power play.

10/12 @ Ana Ducks -- successful

The opponents have not challenged so far this season.

Go West, Young Men

This was the sixth game of a stretch in which the Isles will play 13 of 15 games against Western Conference opponents.  The Isles are 3-2-1 in this stretch; the only Eastern Conference opponents they will face during this stretch are the Rangers (4-3 SO Win) and Capitals (11/2 in DC).

Home and Road

The Islanders are 4-3-1 overall; 2-0-1 at home and 2-3-0 on the road.  

San Jose are 3-4-0 overall; 2-3-0 at home and 1-1-0 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 1-1-0 in Division games and 3-2-1 in games versus other divisions.   The Isles are 2-1-0 against the East and 2-2-1 against the West.

Our House

The Isles are 2-0-1 at home, matching their best home start since 2003-04 (also 2-0-1 in 2010-11 and 2015-16.  The Isles are 1-0-1 vs. the Western Conference at Barclays Center this season and are 22-4-4 all-time at Barclays against the West.

In the Nets

Thomas Greiss made 28 saves to improve to 2-1-1 on the season with both wins coming against the Sharks; he 3-1-0 in his career against San Jose. 

Aaron Dell made 22 saves, but falls to 0-2-0 on the season, with both losses coming to the Isles.  Dell is 2-2-0 in his career against the Isles.

Power Plays

The Isles were 0-2 on the power play; San Jose was 1-4.  

The Isles are 1-0-0 when they score at least one power play goal and 3-3-1 when they do not.  The Isles are 2-2-0 when they allow at least one power play goal and 2-1-1 when they do not.    

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 4-0-0 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 0-3-1 when they do not.  

One Goal Games

The Isles are 1-2-1 in games decided by a single goal including 0-2 in regulation. They are 0-0 in games decided in overtime and are 1-1 in shootouts.  The Isles are 2-0 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game.

The Isles were 15-10-12 in one-goal games last season.

First Goal 

The Isles are 2-0-0 when they score first and are 2-3-1 when they allow the opening goal. 

Back-to-Backs

The Isles are 1-1-0 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 1-1-0 on the back-end.  The next back-to-back set is November 10th in Dallas and November 11th in St. Louis.

Tired vs. Rested

• The Isles are 0-1-0 when both teams played the night before. 

• The Isles are 1-0-0 when they are rested and their opponents are not. 

• The Isles are 1-0-0 when their opponents are rested and the Isles are not.

• The Isles are 2-2-1 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Calvin deHaan (20:22); San Jose: Brent Burns 24:33

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Johnny Boychuk (1-1-1), Nick Leddy (1-1-0), John Tavares (1-1-0). Calvin deHaan (1-0-0).

John Tavares led the forwards in ice-time. Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (4-3-1)

Face-offs

Isles 28, San Jose 27 (51%).  

Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal each won 5 of 8 for the Isles; Joe Thornton won 10 of 15 for San Jose.

Face-offs by period: 1st period 6/12; 2nd period 11/23; 3rd period 11/20.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 23/45; Power play 2/3; Penalty kill 3/7.

Hit Count

Isles 15 (Cal Clutterbuck 4, raising his career total to 2,600) 

San Jose 13 (Brendan Dillon 3) 

Fights

None.  Season total – 1: (Boychuk 1).

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 17 shots; Calvin deHaan led the Isles with 6.

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 50, San Jose 63 (including 14-0 Sharks over a five-minute portion of the 3rd period.

5-on-5 Isles 43, San Jose 49

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Andrew Ladd +11

San Jose: Brent Burns +10

Night and Day 

The Isles are 4-3-0 in night games and 0-0-1 in matinees.  The Isles, who went 2-3-1 in matinees last season, will play six matinees this season.

Ironmen

Jason Chimera – 196 (including 106 for the Capitals); Jordan Eberle 159 (including 151 for the Oilers), Josh Bailey 157, Calvin deHaan 93 

Scratches

(Alan Quine-IR, Shane Prince-IR), Joshua Ho-Sang, Scott Mayfield, Nikolay Kulemin

Total games lost: 19

Late Hero

The Isles have scored once in the final minute of regulation to either tie or win a game:

10/9 – STL Blues – Anders Lee (19:00); tied game, but Isles lost in shootout

All-time Islander Leader Boards:

Games Played (skaters)

1. Bryan Trottier 1123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1060 *** 3. Bob Nystrom 900

….

8. Brent Sutter 694 *** 9. Josh Bailey 647

…

13. Frans Nielsen 606…14. Kenny Jonsson 597… 15. Garry Howatt 596 *** 16. John Tavares 595

Goals

1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 *** 4. Clark Gillies 304***

5. Pat LaFontaine and Brent Sutter 287 *** 7. Bob Bourne and John Tavares 238

…

22.  Mark Parrish, Matt Moulson and Steve Thomas 118 *** 25. Ray Ferraro 116 *** 26. Josh Bailey 109

…

36. Travis Green 92 *** 37. Michael Grabner 90 *** 38 Anders Lee 89

Assists

1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 

…

7. Brent Sutter 323 *** 8. Stefan Persson 317 *** 9. John Tavares 305

…

15. Tomas Jonsson 249 *** 16. Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo 230 ***18. Josh Bailey 203

Points

1. Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052

…

6. Pat LaFontaine 566 *** 7. John Tonelli 544 *** 8. John Tavares 543

…

17. Pierre Turgeon 340 *** 18. Tomas Jonsson 333 *** 19. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 20. Josh Bailey 312

Season Series Stats

The Isles sweep the season series two games to none (and 4 points to 0).  It's the second time in three seasons that the Isles have swept the Sharks.

On the Farm

Bridgeport is 1-4-0 following losses in Lehigh Valley on Friday (5-2) and in their home opener to Laval on Saturday (6-3).  Scott Eansor, who came to camp on a PTO, leads the Sound Tigers (and is second amongst AHL rookies) with six goals in five games while Tanner Fritz has added 1-4-5.  

The Sound Tigers host Hartford Sunday.   

Up Next

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24th - ARIZONA AT ISLANDERS 7:00PM 

[MSG+ (Islanders pre-game at 6:30PM), WNYM 970AM, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN]

The Isles look to extend their winning streak to three games as they welcome Derek Stepan and the Arizona Coyotes to Brooklyn.  The Coyotes are winless (0-7-1) and have lost six straight games in regulation.

It has been nearly 15 years since the Isles were beaten by the Coyotes at home; the then-Phoenix Coyotes captured a 3-2 win on October 29, 2002 at the Coliseum as Landon Wilson beat Garth Snow for the winner with just 3:31 to play.  Since then the Isles are 6-0-1 in their last seven home games against the Coyotes.

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 & on his blog www.nyiskinny.com.

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