The Skinny: Isles 3, Washington 1

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 30

Isles 3, Washington 1

Andrew Ladd and John Tavares scored goals in the first 1:34 of the 2nd period to chase Braden Holtby and Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves as the Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals 3-1 before a crowd of 11,053 at Barclays Center.

Brock Nelson had opened scoring 2:36 into play with his 3rd goal in the last five games.

The Scoring: 

1ST PERIOD

02:36 New York Brock Nelson (9) ASST: Cal Clutterbuck (6), Jason Chimera (6) 1-0

2ND PERIOD

00:36 New York Andrew Ladd (8) ASST: Calvin de Haan (9), Jordan Eberle (10) 2-0

01:34 New York John Tavares (18) ASST: Josh Bailey (28), Anders Lee (13) 3-0

3RD PERIOD

08:23 Washington Dmitry Orlov (3) ASST: Chandler Stephenson (6), Jay Beagle (6) 3-1

The Skinny  

The Isles scored the first goal for only the 11th time in 30 games (11-0-0); the Isles also remain perfect in games that they lead after both one period (10-0-0) and two periods (13-0-0)…The Isles killed both Capital power play, ending a stretch of seven games in which they had allowed a power play goal…Jaroslav Halak recorded his 77th Islander win, tying Roland Melanson for 6th place on the all-time Isles list; Halak has won all five of his starts at Barclays Center this season…Brock Nelson didn't score his ninth goal last season until December 29th...Dmitry Orlov extended his point streak to four games but the Isles ended Alex Ovechkin's 4-game point streak…The Isles, who have played fewer home games than any team in the Eastern Conference, have scored 54 goals in 12 home games (4.50 per game)…Jason Chimera improved to 1-3-4 in the last six games…Joshua Bailey (5-28-33) retained his one point lead over John Tavares (18-14-32)…Bailey's assist was also his team-leading 12th primary assist, and leaves him just one point behind Pierre Turgeon on the Isles' all-time scoring list…The Isles have not blanked Washington at home since April 8, 2006…Jordan Eberle is the eighth Islander to reach double-digits in assists.

You Can't Stop Them if You Don't Foul Them

All three Islander Power Plays were created from Capital penalties against Mathew Barzal (2) and Joshua Ho-Sang.

Barzal has now drawn 17 penalties, tops among all NHL rookies and 4th in the entire NHL, behind Matthew Tkachuk (19), Nikita Kucherov (18) and Bryan Rust (18).  Ho-Sang, who has played in 20 of the Isles' 30 games, has now drawn nine penalties, placing him in the top 6 among all rookies and tied for third on the team.

Penalties Drawn by Isles

1. Mathew Barzal 17

2. Jordan Eberle 10

3. John Tavares and Joshua Ho-Sang 9

He's Quite a Ladd

Andrew Ladd scored his 8th goal, giving him 15 points on the day before his 32nd birthday.  Ladd is also a team-leading +14 and is the only player in the entire Eastern Conference with at least 14 points and at least a +14 rating.

Leading goal scorers in NHL

1. Alex Ovechkin 21

2. Nikita Kucherov 20

3. John Tavares 18

4. Anders Lee & Sean Monahan 17

Club 17-18

John Tavares has 18 goals and Anders Lee has 17 goals; no Islander had reached 18 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 16 years (Mark Parrish and Alexei Yashin in 2001-02).  

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 (11-0-0).  It's the first time that the Isles have won at least eleven 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 16 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 17-10-3 this season; they were 11-13-6 through 30 games last season and won only 17 of their first 42 games last season (17-17-8).  Their 17th win came in Jack Capuano's final game as Islander head coach. 

Lots of Wins

Jaroslav Halak recorded his 221 career wins, tying 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 41-22-7 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             10-10-9=29

Washington   7-15-10=32

The Isles are 5-3-2 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even, and 12-6-1 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 fifth game of a stretch in which the Isles will play eight games in 13 days.  The Isles are 2-2-1 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 W 3-1

12/13- Vs. Stars

12/14 - @ Blue Jackets

12/16- Vs. Kings

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

Home for the Holidays

This was the first game of a stretch in which thee Isles will play seven out of eight games on home-ice.  The Isles are 1-0-0 in this stretch:

12/11- Vs. Caps W 3-1

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 17-10-3 overall; 9-1-2 at home and 8-9-1 on the road.  

Washington is 18-12-1 overall; 12-5-0 at home and 6-7-1 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 5-3-1 in Division games and 12-7-2 in games versus other divisions.   The Isles are 9-6-1 against the East and 8-4-2 against the West.

Our House

The Isles are 9-1-2 at home; they are 4-1-0 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 12 Home Games

22- 1984-85

21- 1978-79

20- 2017-18

20- 2014-15

19- 1974-75

19- 1977-78

In the Nets

Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves and improves to 9-7-1 on the season and 9-8-0 in his career against Washington.  

Braden Holtby made 9 saves (all in the first period) before being chased after Tavares' goal. Holtby falls to 16-7-0 overall and 13-4-3 against the Isles. Philipp Grubauer stopped all 17 shots he saw in relief. 

Power Plays

The Isles were 0-3 on the power play in 6:00 of PP time; Washington was 0-2 in 4:00 of PP time. 

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

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 16-3-1 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 11-0-0 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 (21:31); Washington: John Carlson (23:32)

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Johnny Boychuk (3-1-1), Nick Leddy (10-8-1), John Tavares (2-1-0), Calvin deHaan (2-0-0).

John Tavares led the forwards in ice-time (18:44). Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (16-7-3), Josh Bailey (1-0-0), Brock Nelson (0-1-0), Mathew Barzal (0-2-0).

Face-offs

Isles 28, Washington 28 (50%). 

Casey Cizikas won 10 of 19 for the Isles; Jay Beagle won 7 of 10 for Washington.

Face-offs by period: 1st period 10/18; 2nd period 8/19; 3rd period 10/19.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 25/47; Power play 2/6; Penalty kill 1/3

Hit Count

Isles 21 (Scott Mayfield -4) 

Washington 20 (Tom Wilson -6)

Fights

There were no fights. Season total – 3: (Boychuk 1, Mayfield 1, Cizikas 1).

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 17 shots; Dennis Seidenberg led the team with 6.

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 54, Washington 57 

5-on-5 Isles 42, Washington 45

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Anders Lee +7

Washington: Jakub Vrana +9

Night and Day 

The Isles are 16-10-2 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 – 218 (including 106 for the Capitals); Jordan Eberle 181 (including 151 for the Oilers), Josh Bailey 179, Calvin deHaan 115, Nick Leddy 107.

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 115

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 107

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), (Johnny Boychuk-injured), (Thomas Hickey-IR), Shane Prince-conditioning, Alan Quine

Total games lost: 71

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 *** 8. Brent Sutter 694 *** 9. Josh Bailey 669 *** 10. Derek King 638 *** 11. Billy Harris 623 *** 12. Stefan Persson 622 *** 13. John Tavares 617

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 253

…

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 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 228

Points

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

5. Brent Sutter 610 *** 6. John Tavares 569

…

14. Kyle Okposo & Stefan Persson 369 *** 16. Frans Nielsen 349 *** 17. Pierre Turgeon 340 *** 18. Josh Bailey 339

Games Played (Goalies)

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

…

6. Glenn Healy 176 *** 7. Jaroslav Halak 141 *** 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 and. Jaroslav Halak 77*** 7. Glenn Healy 66 *** 8.  Tommy Salo 62 *** 

9. Evgeni Nabokov and Thomas Greiss 57

Season Series Stats

The season series is even at one game to one (and two points to two). The teams will not meet again until a home-and-home series on March 15th (in Brooklyn) – March 16th (in DC)

The Isles improved to 7-2-4 in their last 13 regular season home games against the Caps.

On the Farm

Bridgeport fell to 12-10-1-1 on the season with a 4-1 loss to Rochester on Sunday. Casey Bailey had the lone goal for the Sound Tigers, who are winless in their last 4 games (0-3-0-1).  Shane Prince had 7 shots on goal in his first rehab game.

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 4-5-2.  

Bridgeport visits Springfield on Friday, before hosting Wilkes Barre-Scranton on Saturday and Lehigh Valley at 3pm on Sunday.

 

Up Next

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13th –DALLAS AT ISLANDERS 7:00PM 

[MSG+ (Islanders pre-game at 6:30PM), WFAN 660AM/101.9FM, 88.7 WRHU-FM]

The Isles will look for a split of the season series as they welcome the Stars to Brooklyn.  

Three of the last four meetings between the teams have ended in shutouts, including Dallas' 5-0 win on home-ice last month.

Doug Weight made his head coaching debut against the Stars back on January 19th as Thomas Greiss blanked Dallas 3-0.  The Isles have won their last four home games vs. Dallas by a combined score of 23-11.

 

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