The Skinny: Boston 3, Isles 1

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 29

Boston 3, Isles 1

Brad Marchand broke a scoreless tie midway through the game and Jake DeBrusk's goal at 6:45 of the third period proved to be the winner as the Boston Bruins defeated the Isles 3-1 before a sellout crowd of 17,565 at TD Garden.

Anders Lee scored his 17th goal to get the Isles close with 3:08 to play but Danton Heinen's empty-netter sealed matters as the Isles concluded their four-game road trip with a 1-2-1 record.

The Scoring: 

1ST PERIOD

No Scoring

2ND PERIOD

10:51 Boston PPG - Brad Marchand (11) ASST: Torey Krug (11), David Pastrnak (12) 0-1

3RD PERIOD

06:45 Boston Jake DeBrusk (6) ASST: Torey Krug (12), David Pastrnak (13) 0-2

16:52 New York Anders Lee (17) ASST: Josh Bailey (27), Mathew Barzal (20) 1-2

19:18 Boston EN - Danton Heinen (6) ASST: Patrice Bergeron (13) 1-3

The Skinny  

The Isles allowed the first goal in every game of this road trip and in each of the last five games overall.  They have also allowed the opening goal in 7 of the last 10 and in 19 of the first 29 games…. Nick Leddy's assist streak ended at four games….  The Bruins have sold-out 353 consecutive games…Casey Cizikas was involved in his 2nd NHL fight when Jake DeBrusk instigated a fight with him in the second period…DeBrusk received one of two misconduct penalties assessed to Boston in the game (none to Islander opponents in previous 28 games)… Anders Lee has not gone more than three games without a goal this season...Mathew Barzal assisted on Lee's goal and continues to lead all rookies in scoring with 28 points (8-20-28); his 20 assists are the most by an Islander rookie since Travis Hamonic had 21 in 2010-11… The Isles have allowed power play goals in each of the last seven games (11 power play goals total); the Isles allowed power play goals in eight straight games early last season… The Isles had 4:12 of major penalty power play time in the third period due to major penalties assessed to Brad Marchand (interference on John Tavares) and David Backes (head-butting Andrew Ladd) but could not score…Danton Heinen's empty-netter was the first allowed by the Isles this season…David Pastrnak's assist on DeBrusk's goal extended his point streak to 8 games while Marchand's goal extended his point streak to five games…Including tonight, there has been 201 goals in Islander games and only 151 goals (both teams) in Bruins games…The Isles have been outscored 33-24 in power play situations this season…The Bruins are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games following a 6-7-4 start.

Leading goal scorers in NHL

1. Alex Ovechkin 21

2. Nikita Kucherov 20

3. John Tavares 17

4. Sean Monahan 17

5. Anders Lee 17

Club 17

Both John Tavares and Anders Lee now have 17 goals; no Islander had reached 17 goals before Christmas since 2006 when Jason Blake did so.

Tavares and Lee are the first Islander teammates to score 17 goals before Christmas in 17 years: (Mark Parrish and Alexei Yashin).  The last time two Islanders had 17 goals on December 9th was in 1984, when Mike Bossy and Brent Sutter both scored their 17th goal before the end of November.

Five's Alive

The Isles have scored at least five goals eight times at home (7-1-0) and twelve times overall (11-1-0). The Isles have also scored one shootout winner for a five goal of the game (not included above). The Isles scored five goals (including shootout winners) in only 10 games all last season.

First Things First

The Isles have scored first ten times this season (10-0-0).  It's the first time that the Isles have won at least ten straight games (single season) that they scored first since December 16, 2010 – February 21, 2011 (11-0-0).

The Isles also won the last 5 games that they scored first last season, giving them a franchise-record 15 straight wins when the Isles score first.  The Isles won 14 straight games when scoring first between January 4 – February 25, 1982, including in 12 games of their 15-game winning streak.

A Favorable Comparison

The Isles are 16-10-3 this season; they were 11-13-5 through 29 games last season and won only 16 of their first 41 games last season (16-17-8).  

Leddy(ing) the Way

Nick Leddy's assist give him 24 points in 29 games this season (.83 points/game).  The last Islander defensemen to have that high of an average was Marc Andre-Bergeron (21 points/ 23 games =.91 in 2006-07).  No Islander defenseman without the surname of Potvin has ever averaged .91 points/game over a full season (Denis did it 10 times and Jean once).

Lots of Wins

Jaroslav Halak has 220 career wins; he is one win behind Ilya Bryzgalov for 68th place on the all-time NHL win list.   

Greiss, Greiss, Baby

Thomas Greiss is 8-3-2 on the season (8-2-2 in his last 12 decisions). Greiss had won five straight decisions and was 6-0-1(with 1 no decision) in his last 8 games prior to today.

Fastest to 40

Doug Weight is now 40-22-7 as an NHL coach. On December 4 in Florida, he reached 40 wins faster than any coach in Islander history:

Fewest Games to 40 Wins by an Islander Coach:

66 – Doug Weight (40-20-6)

80– Peter Laviolette 2001-02 (40-28-8-4)

82 – Ted Nolan 2006-07 (40-30-12)

86—Steve Stirling 2003-04 (40-31-11-4)

The Shots

Isles       4-14-13=31

Boston   11-12-10=33

The Isles are 5-3-2 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even, and 11-6-1 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 an Islander goal due to an offside so far this season.

Busy December

This was the fourth game of a stretch in which the Isles will play eight games in 13 days.  The Isles are 1-2-1 in this stretch:

12/4 - @ Panthers W 5-4 (SO)

12/5 - @ Lightning L 2-6

12/7 - @ Penguins L 3-4 (OT)

12/9 - @ Bruins L 1-3

12/11- Vs. Caps

12/13- Vs. Stars

12/14 - @ Blue Jackets

12/16- Vs. Kings

The game in Columbus on December 14th is the only road game in an 8-game stretch between December 11th and December 27th.

The Isles are playing 15 games this month, matching their record for most December games (done several other times).  

Home for the Holidays

The Isles will play seven out of eight games on home-ice beginning on Monday:

12/11- Vs. Caps

12/13- Vs. Stars

12/14 - @ Blue Jackets

12/16- Vs. Kings

12/19 – Vs. Red Wings

12/21 -  Vs. Ducks

12/23 – Vs. Jets (1pm)

12/27 – Vs. Sabres

Home and Road

The Islanders are 16-10-3 overall; 8-1-2 at home and 8-9-1 on the road.  

Boston is 14-9-4 overall; 9-4-2 at home and 5-5-2 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 4-3-1 in Division games and 12-7-2 in games versus other divisions.   The Isles are 8-6-1 against the East and 8-4-2 against the West.

Our House

The Isles are 8-1-2 at home; they are 3-1-0 against the East and 5-0-2 against the West.  All-time the Isles are 26-4-5 all-time at Barclays against the West.

Most Points Through 11 Home Games

20- 1984-85

19- 1978-79

18- 2017-18

18- 2014-15

18- 1982-83

18- 1974-75

In the Nets

Jaroslav Halak made 30 saves but falls to 8-7-1 on the season and 8-7-0 in his career against Boston.  

Tuukka Rask made 30 saves to improve to 7-8-2 on the season and 11-5-0 in his career against the Isles. 

Power Plays

The Isles were 0-4 on the power play in 8:12 of PP time; Boston was 1-2 in 0:53 of PP time. 

The Isles are 10-4-0 when they score at least one power play goal and 6-6-3 when they do not.  The Isles are 10-7-1 when they allow at least one power play goal and 6-3-2 when they do not.    

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 15-3-1 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 1-7-2 when they do not.  

One Goal Games

The Isles are 5-4-3 in games decided by a single goal including 1-4 in regulation. They are 2-2 in games decided in overtime and are 2-1 in shootouts.  The Isles are 4-1 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game.

First Goal 

The Isles are 10-0-0 when they score first and are 6-10-3 when they allow the opening goal. 

Back-to-Backs

The Isles are 4-2-0 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 3-3-0 on the back-end.  The next back-to-back set is December 13th vs. Dallas and December 14th in Columbus; that is the last back-to-back set until mid-January.

Tired vs. Rested

• The Isles are 1-2-0 when both teams played the night before. 

• The Isles are 4-0-0 when they are rested, and their opponents are not. 

• The Isles are 2-1-0 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.

• The Isles are 9-7-3 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Nick Leddy (26:21); Boston: Zdeno Chara (22:20)

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Johnny Boychuk (3-1-1), Nick Leddy (9-8-1), John Tavares (2-1-0), Calvin deHaan (2-0-0).

Mathew Barzal led the forwards in ice-time (22:15). Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (15-7-3), Josh Bailey (1-0-0), Brock Nelson (0-1-0), Mathew Barzal (0-2-0).

Face-offs

Isles 27, Boston 38 (42%). 

Mathew Barzal won 7 of 10 for the Isles but his teammates won only 20 of 55; David Krejci won 14 of 18 for Boston.

Face-offs by period: 1st period 9/21; 2nd period 8/26; 3rd period 10/18.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 22/57; Power play 4/6; Penalty kill 1/2

Hit Count

Isles 28 (Adam Pelech -5) 

Boston 19 (David Backes -4)

Fights

Jake DeBrusk instigated a fight with the Isles' Casey Cizikas in the 2nd period. Season total – 3: (Boychuk 1, Mayfield 1, Cizikas 1).

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 10 shots; Cal Clutterbuck and Dennis Seidenberg each had 2.

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 61, Boston 54 (including 25-15 Isles in the 3rd period)

5-on-5 Isles 39, Boston 44

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Jordan Eberle +9

Boston: David Backes +10

Night and Day 

The Isles are 15-10-2 in night games and 1-0-1 in matinees.  The Isles, who went 2-3-1 in matinees last season, will play six matinees this season; the next one is December 23rd vs. Winnipeg (1pm).

Ironmen

Jason Chimera – 217 (including 106 for the Capitals); Jordan Eberle 180 (including 151 for the Oilers), Josh Bailey 178, Calvin deHaan 114, Nick Leddy 106.

Century Club

Calvin deHaan and Nick Leddy have joined a select group of defensemen in Islander history who have played at least 100 consecutive regular season games:

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. Andrew MacDonald 12/19/2011- 3/2/2014 164 (**)

5. Janne Niinimaa 3/13/2004-1/7/2006 136 (**)

6. Ken Morrow 3/1/1980-12/29/1981 134 (*)

7. Mark Streit 10/8/2011-4/26/2013 130

8. Travis Hamonic 2/24/2012-1/12/2014 117

9. Calvin deHaan 4/7/2016- CURRENT 114

10. Travis Hamonic 11/24/2010– 2/4/2012 113 (*)

11. Jean Potvin 10/23/1975-1/2/1977 110

12. Nick Leddy 10/23/2016 – CURRENT 106

13.  Kenny Jonsson 12/26/1996-2/4/1998 104

14. Thomas Hickey 4/26/2013- 11/22/2014 103

 (*) Start of NHL career.

(**) Entire career with Islanders

Scratches

(Nikolay Kulemin -IR), (Shane Prince-IR), (Johnny Boychuk-injured), Alan Quine, Scott Mayfield

Total games lost: 64.

Late Heroes

The Isles have scored twice in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game:

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

12/7 – PIT Penguins – Brock Nelson (18:50); tied game, but Isles lost in overtime

7-11

The Isles have used 7 defensemen twice this season (10/19 @NYR, 10/21 vs SJ) and are 2-0-0 in those games.  Under Doug Weight, the Isles are 6-0-0 when they dress seven natural defensemen.

All-time Islander Leader Boards:

Games Played (skaters)

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

…

7.  Patrick Flatley 712 *** Brent Sutter 694 *** 9. Josh Bailey 668 *** 10. Derek King 638 *** 11. Billy Harris 623 *** 12. Stefan Persson 622 *** 13. John Tavares 616

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. John Tavares 252

…

22.  Mark Parrish, Matt Moulson and Steve Thomas 118 *** 25. Ray Ferraro 116 *** 26. Josh Bailey 111 *** 27. Benoit Hogue and Ed Westfall 105 *** 29. Anders Kallur 101 and Anders Lee 101

Assists

1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553*** 4. Clark Gillies 359***

5. John Tonelli 338 *** 6. Patrick Flatley 328 *** 7. Brent Sutter 323 *** 8. Stefan Persson 317 *** 9. John Tavares 316

…

15. Tomas Jonsson 249 *** 16. Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo 230 ***18. Josh Bailey 227

Points

1. Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052 *** 4. Clark Gillies 663 ***

5. Brent Sutter 610 *** 6. John Tavares 568

…

16. Frans Nielsen 349 *** 17. Pierre Turgeon 340 *** 18. Josh Bailey 338

Games Played (Goalies)

1. Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282

…

6. Glenn Healy 176 *** 7. Jaroslav Halak 140 *** 8. Roland Melanson 136*** 9. Mark Fitzpatrick 129 ***

10. Garth Snow 127 *** 11.  Evgeni Nabokov 123 *** 12. Thomas Greiss 105

Wins (Goalie)

1. Billy Smith 304 *** 2. Glenn Resch 157 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 130***4. Kelly Hrudey 106 ***

5. Rollie Melanson 77 *** 6. Jaroslav Halak 76*** 7. Glenn Healy 66 *** 8.  Tommy Salo 62 *** 

9. Evgeni Nabokov and Thomas Greiss 57

Season Series Stats

Boston leads the series one game to none (and two points to none). The teams will meet twice in Brooklyn in January (January 2nd and January 18th).

The road team has generally had the upper hand in recent battles between the teams; even after tonight's loss, the Isles have won 5 of 8 and 6 of 10 in Boston, but are only 1-8-0 in the last 9 at home, including 0-3-0 at Barclays Center.

On the Farm

Bridgeport is 12-9-1-1 on the season, including 9-4-1-1 in their last 15 games after a 4-3 loss to Springfield on Saturday. Tanner Fritz, Devon Toews and Steve Bernier had the goal for Bridgeport 

Tanner Fritz continues to lead Bridgeport with 24 points (8-17-25; Bernier and Rookie Scott Eansor lead the team in goals with 10. Christopher Gibson is 8-5-0 in the nets, while Krister Gudlevskis is 4-4-2.  

Bridgeport hosts Rochester at 3pm on Sunday.

 

Up Next

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11th –WASHINGTON AT ISLANDERS 7:00PM 

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

It's time for the schedule to change. After playing 18 of the first 29 games on the road, the Isles will play seven of the next eight games at home, beginning with Monday's game against the reigning President's Trophy champion Washington Capitals.

It's the second meeting of the teams this season; the Isles dominated large parts of the November 2nd game in DC, outshooting Washington 38-19, but fell 4-3. It was the fewest shots the Isles had allowed to the Caps in the last 23 games between the teams.

 

The Isles are 6-2-4 in their last 12 regular season home games against the Caps, including 2-1-0 last season.

After Monday, the teams won't face each other until a home-and-home series in mid-March.

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