The Skinny: New Jersey 2, Isles 1

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 63

New Jersey 2, Isles 1

Long Island native Kyle Palmieri scored twice in a 4:36 span of the third period and Long Island's Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves as the New Jersey Devils rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Islanders before a sellout crowd of 16,514 at Prudential Center.

The Devils, who before the game retired the jersey of Patrik Elias, improved to 7-19-2 in games they trailed after 40 minutes while the Isles fell to 2-2-2 this month in games they led in the second intermission.

Jordan Eberle scored for the second straight game; it was his 4th goal in the last eight games. Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal assisted on the goal as Barzal extended his club lead in both assists (49, to Josh Bailey's 47) and points (66, to John Tavares' 64).

The Scoring: 

1ST PERIOD

No Scoring

2ND PERIOD

03:55 New York Jordan Eberle (22) ASST: Anthony Beauvillier (10), Mathew Barzal (49) 1-0

3RD PERIOD

06:35 New Jersey Kyle Palmieri (15) ASST: Taylor Hall (39), Nico Hischier (28) 1-1

11:11 New Jersey Kyle Palmieri (16) ASST: Sami Vatanen (21), Taylor Hall (40) 1-2

The Skinny  

Isles are 14-20-5 in their last 39 games … Including shootout winners, the Isles have scored 207 goals in the first 63 games (highest since 1993-94 when they had 213) and allowed 225 goals (highest since 1995-96, when they also allowed 247) … The Isles are 4-5-2 in February, including 2-2-2 in the six games that they had led after two periods.… Mathew Barzal has earned 17 assists on Jordan Eberle's 22nd goals … The Isles fall two points behind Columbus for the final playoff spot; the Isles have also played one additional game…Kyle Palmieri now has three goals against the Isles this season…The Isles did not allow a power play goal for the fifth straight game; it's the club's longest streak since they did so to end last season…The Devils have now retired five jerseys and are 5-0-0 in those five games…Taylor Hall was credited with two assists; he now has points in 14 straight games, and in the last 21 games that he played.  He is the first Devil since Ilya Kovalchuk (2010-11) to record a 14-game point streak and is one shy of the team record shared by Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta…Michael Grabner made his Devils debut; he is the 11th player to appear for all three New York-area teams…The Isles are 0-2-1 in their last three games.

 

Lots of Rubber for Jaro

Since December 1st, Jaroslav Halak has faced 1,112 shots.  This is 94 more than any other goaltender in that span (Frederik Andersen has faced 1,018).   Halak has faced 1,486 shots this season (6th in NHL); each goalie who has faced more shots have played in at least seven more games than Halak.

Barzal Is Highest Scoring Isles Rookie in 40 Years

Mathew Barzal is the third highest-scoring rookie in Islander history; with 49 assists in 63 games, he is on pace for a rookie franchise record 64 assists: 

Most Assists by an Islander Rookie

1. Bryan Trottier 63 1975-76

2. Stefan Persson 50 1977-78

3. MATHEW BARZAL 49 2017-18 

Most Points by an Islander Rookie

1. Bryan Trottier 95 1975-76

2. Mike Bossy 91 1977-78

3. MATHEW BARZAL 66 2017-18 

Over the last 10 seasons, no rookie has more assists than Barzal. (Nicklas Backstrom had 55 assists and Patrick Kane had 51 assists in 2007-08.)

Denis Potvin is the only rookie to ever lead the Isles in assists; Billy Harris, Potvin, Trent Hunter (tied) and John Tavares are the only rookies to ever lead the Isles in point.

Countdown to 50

Mathew Barzal has 49 assists and Josh Bailey has 47. No Islander has had 50 assists since John Tavares reached the mark in 2011-12; Pierre Turgeon is the only Islander to exceed 50 assists in the last 28 seasons (74 in 1992-93 and 56 in 1993-94).

Three's Company

Mathew Barzal has eight games of at least three points this season (five games with three points and three games with five points). Since 1993-94, only Sidney Crosby (11 times), Artemi Pararin (10 times) and Alex Ovechkin (8 times) have done so as often in their rookie seasons.

One and Done

The Isles are 16-2-2 this season when leading after one period.  Their February 5th overtime loss to the Predators ended a 19-game winning streak when scoring first and their February 11th regulation loss to the Flames ended a 22-0-2 streak dating back to last season in which they have earned points.

 

Five's Alive

The Isles have scored at least five goals ten times at home (9-1-0) and seventeen times overall (16-1-0). The Isles have also scored two shootout winners for a fifth goal of the game (not included above). The Isles scored five goals (including shootout winners) in only 10 games all last season.

Five's Trouble

The Isles have allowed at least five goals nine times at home (1-6-2) and seventeen times overall (1-14-2).  

First Things First

The Isles have scored first 27 times this season (19-6-2). The Isles won the first eleven times they scored first this season and had won a franchise-record 16 straight dating back to last season.

First Goal 

The Isles are 19-6-2 when they score first and are 10-21-5 when they allow the opening goal. 

This Year vs. Last Year

The Isles are 29-27-7 (65 points) this season; they were 30-22-11 (71 points) through 63 games last season.  

Lots of Wins

Jaroslav Halak has 230 career wins; he is tied with Antti Niemi, Corey Crawford, Gerry Cheevers and Martin Biron for 62nd on the all-time NHL win list; Chico Resch owns 231 NHL wins.

Fastest to 50

Doug Weight is now 53-39-11 as an NHL coach. On February 3rd vs. the Blue Jackets, he reached 50 wins faster than any coach in Islander history:

Fewest Games to 50 Wins by an Islander Coach:

93 – Doug Weight (50-34-9)

98 – Ted Nolan 2006-07 & 2007-08 (50-36-12)

102- Terry Simpson 1986-87 & 1987-88 (50-39-13)

103– Peter Laviolette 2001-02 & 2002-03(50-39-10-4)

106—Steve Stirling 2003-04 & 2005-06 (50-40-11-5)

The Shots

Isles            7-11-13=31

New Jersey 11-11-11=33

The Isles are 7-9-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even, and 22-17-3 when they are outshot.  (The club record for wins while being outshot in one season is 25, set by the 1983-84 team)

Offside Challenges

The Isles have challenged four times and been successful three times.  The Isles are 2-1-0 in games they win the challenge and are 0-0-1 in games they lose the challenge.

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

• 10/12 @ Ana Ducks – successful

• 1/15 @ Mtl Canadiens – successful 

• 2/16 @ Car Hurricanes - successful

The opponents have not yet challenged an Islander goal due to an offside this season.

Home and Road

The Islanders are 29-27-7 overall; 16-11-4 at home and 13-16-2 on the road.  

New Jersey is 32-22-8 overall; 17-12-3 at home and 15-10-5 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 10-9-1 in Division games and 19-18-6 in games versus other divisions.   The Isles are 17-18-2 against the East and 12-9-5 against the West.  

Our House

The Isles are 16-11-4 at home; they are 9-8-0 against the East and 7-3-4 against the West.  All-time the Isles are 28-7-7 all-time at Barclays against the West.

In the Nets

Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves but falls to 18-20=5 on the season and 12-6-2 in his career against New Jersey. 

Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves to improve to 14-8-2 on the season and 2-3-2 in his career against the Isles. 

Power Plays

The Isles were 0-2 on the power play in 4:00 of PP time; New Jersey was 0-1 on the power play in 2:00 of PP time.

The Isles are 17-10-2 when they score at least one power play goal and 12-17-5 when they do not.  The Isles are 16-18-2 when they allow at least one power play goal and 13-9-5 when they do not.    

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 27-8-4 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 2-19-3 when they do not.  

One Goal Games

The Isles are 12-7-7 in games decided by a single goal including 3-7 in regulation. They are 6-5 in games decided in overtime and are 3-2 in shootouts.  The Isles are 4-3 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game.

Back-to-Backs

The Isles are 6-6-0 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 5-7-0 on the back-end. The Isles will play four sets of back-to-backs in March, beginning March 2nd vs. Montreal and March 3rd in Pittsburgh. 

Tired vs. Rested

• The Isles are 2-3-0 when both teams played the night before. 

• The Isles are 6-1-0 when they are rested, and their opponents are not. 

• The Isles are 3-4-0 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.

• The Isles are 17-19-7 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Nick Leddy (23:12); New Jersey: Sami Vatanen (23:09)

Mathew Barzal led Isles forwards in ice-time (18:49) 

Face-offs

Isles 29, New Jersey 26 (53%).

John Tavares won 10 of 15 for the Isles; Travis Zajac won 14 of 23 for New Jersey.

 

Face-offs by period: 1st period 9/17; 2nd period 8/16; 3rd period 12/22.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 26/49, Power play 2/2, Penalty kill 1/4.

Hit Count

Isles 34 (Cal Clutterbuck and Johnny Boychuk-4)

New Jersey 34 (Three with 4)

Fights

There were no fights. Season total – 11: (Boychuk 2, Johnston 2, Mayfield 1, Cizikas 1, Chimera 1, Prince 1, Bailey 1, Eberle 1, Nelson 1).

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 15 shots (Brock Nelson & Adam Pelech-3)

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 51, New Jersey 52.

5-on-5 Isles 47, New Jersey 42.

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Jordan Eberle & Mathew Barzal +8

New Jersey: Kyle Palmieri +9

Night and Day 

The Isles are 25-26-6 in night games and 4-1-1 in matinees.  All remaining games this season will be played at night.

Ironmen

Overall: Jordan Eberle 214 (including 152 for the Oilers): 

As Isles: Nick Leddy 140, Anders Lee 99, Brock Nelson 76, Jordan Eberle/Mathew Barzal/John Tavares 63.

Top 5 Club

Nick Leddy now hold the fifth longest consecutive game streak in Islander history for a defenseman: 

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. Nick Leddy 10/23/2016 – CURRENT 140

(*) Start of NHL career.

(**) Entire career with Islanders

Scratches

(Nikolay Kulemin -IR), (Calvin deHaan-IR), (Shane Prince- IR), (Scott Mayfield - IR), (Thomas Greiss-IR), (Alan Quine-IR), Jason Chimera, Dennis Seidenberg, Brandon Davidson

Total games lost: 210

Late Heroes

The Isles have scored four times in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or take the lead:

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

12/27- BUF Sabres – Josh Bailey (18:51); tied game, and Isles won in overtime

2/9 – DET Red Wings – Josh Bailey (18:11); took lead, Isles allowed tying goal but then won in overtime.

Late Goals Allowed

The Isles have allowed a goal five times in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game:

12/16 – LA Kings – Anze Kopitar (19:47); tied game, but Isles won in overtime

12/21—ANA Ducks – Rickard Rakell (18:45); tied game and Ducks won in overtime

2/6 – NAS Predators – Ryan Johansen (19:17); tied game and Predators won in overtime

2/9 – DET Red Wings – Mike Green (19:31); tied game but Isles won in overtime.

2/11- CLG Flames – Mathew Tkachuk (18:55); won game

7-11

The Isles have used 7 defensemen three times this season (10/19 @NYR, 10/21 vs SJ, 1/16 vs. NJ) and are 2-1-0 in those games.  Under Doug Weight, the Isles are 6-1-0 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. Josh Bailey 698*** 9. Brent Sutter 694 *** 10. John Tavares 650

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 265

…

18. Jason Blake 127 *** 19. Duane Sutter and Josh Bailey 121 *** 21 Frans Nielsen and Alexei Yashin 119 *** 23. Mark Parrish, Matt Moulson and Steve Thomas 118 *** 26. Ray Ferraro 116 *** 27. Anders Lee 114

Assists

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

5. John Tonelli 338 *** 6. John Tavares 336

…

13. Bobby Nystrom 278 *** 14. Billy Harris 259 *** 15. Tomas Jonsson 249 *** 16. Josh Bailey 247

Points

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

5. Brent Sutter 610 *** 6. John Tavares 601

…

13. Billy Harris 443 *** 14. Kyle Okposo & Stefan Persson 369 *** 16. Josh Bailey 367

Games Played (Goalies)

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

…

6. Glenn Healy 176 *** 7. Jaroslav Halak 167 *** 8. Roland Melanson 136*** 9. Mark Fitzpatrick 129 ***

10. Garth Snow 127 *** 11.  Evgeni Nabokov 123 *** 12. Thomas Greiss 115

Wins (Goalie)

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

5. Jaroslav Halak 86 *** 6.  Rollie Melanson 77*** 7. Glenn Healy 66 *** 8.  Tommy Salo 62 *** 

9. Thomas Greiss 60

Season Series Stats

New Jersey leads the season series two games to none (and five points to two). The season series will conclude in New Jersey on March 31st.

Despite the loss, the Isles are 8-2-1 in their last 11 trips to New Jersey.

On the Farm

Bridgeport is 24-22-5-3 after losing 5-3 in Providence and 2-1 at home to Charlotte.  The Sound Tigers are 1-5-1-1 in their last eight games.

Tanner Fritz (on recall to the Isles) leads Bridgeport with 37 points (10-27-37); Rookie Scott Eansor leads the team in goals with 16. Christopher Gibson (also on recall to the Isles) is 18-11-3 in the nets with 4 shutouts.

The Sound Tigers conclude their 3-in-3 weekend at 3pm Sunday against Charlotte. 

Up Next

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28th – ISLANDERS AT MONTREAL 7:00PM 

[MSG+2 (Islander pre-game at 6:30PM), WFAN 660AM/101.9FM, 88.7 WRHU-FM]

The Isles begin a home-and-home-series with the Canadiens as they visit La Belle Province for the second time this season.  Back on January 15th, Thomas Greiss made a career-high 53 saves and John Tavares scored in overtime as the Isles won 5-4 for their third straight win over the Canadiens (all with Thomas Greiss in goal).

Mathew Barzal has had a lot of success against "Original Six" teams this season, tallying an NHL-leading 24 points. (Thanks, Elias Sports Bureau)

This will be the third home-and-home series between the teams in the last eight seasons; Montreal swept each of the prior two series.

The Isles will be looking for their fourth straight win over Montreal; they haven't done that since Ron Hextall led the Isles to four straight wins over the Habs in the 1993-94 season.

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 & 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