The Skinny: Calgary 3, Isles 1

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 62

Calgary 3 Isles 1

Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson scored 1:57 apart in the third period to break a 1-1 tie as the Western Conference leaders, the Calgary Flames, handed the Isles a 3-1 defeat before a crowd of 13,097 at the Nassau Coliseum.

Josh Bailey, playing his 777th NHL game, had scored his 14th goal of the season to tie the game in the second period

The Isles fall to 1-2-1 in the last four games as they have been caught above the top of the Metro Division at 79 points by Washington; the Isles are 12-3-4 in their last 19 games and still hold two games in hand on the Stanley Cup Champs.

 

The Scoring:  

1st Period

No Goals

2nd Period

Matthew Tkachuk (25) Elias Lindholm, Sean Monahan 02:57 CGY 1,NYI 0 PPG

Josh Bailey (14) Valtteri Filppula, Andrew Ladd 07:39 CGY 1,NYI 1

3rd Period

Mikael Backlund (17) Elias Lindholm, Johnny Gaudreau 03:15 CGY 2,NYI 1

Rasmus Andersson (2) Austin Czarnik, Mark Giordano 05:12 CGY 3,NYI 1

The Skinny      

The Isles are 19-6-3 since Devon Toews joined the lineup and are 22-7-3 in their last 32 games; Toews saw his assist streak stopped at five games…The Isles have surpassed last season's win total (36); including shootout winners they have scored 27 fewer goals and allowed 74 fewer goals than last year's first 62 games… The Isles have 40 points at home and 39 points on the road … For the 28th straight game, the Isles did not allow three goals in any period.  That extends the club record; the previous mark (26) was set in February-March 1976…The Isles are 6-3-1 in their last ten games (6-1-1 against everyone but Calgary)…The Isles are 7-4-2 in February as they have clinched a winning record for the 5th straight month… Casey Cizikas was +1; he dropped to +23 on the season, a mark no Islander forward (Marty McInnis +31 in 1993-94) has exceeded in the last 25 years…Andrew Ladd recorded an assist in his first game since November 13th (he also had an assist in that game)… Johnny Gaudreau was originally credited with his 50th assist on the Tkachuk goal; it was taken away and then he earned the 50th on Mikael Backlund's winning goal.  It's the second time in his career he has reached 50 assists; he is the youngest Flame since Theo Fleury to do so…The Flames have outscored their opposition 93-49 in the 3rd period.

Take a Third Off

Through 62 games, the Isles have allowed 149 goals (including shootouts).  That is 74 goals fewer than they allowed through 62 games last season, meaning they have allowed nearly 1/3rd fewer goals this season than last season.

Strength in the Nets

Robin Lehner is 15-4-2 (1.75, .941) in his last 21 decisions. His NHL-leading GAA is 2.10 and his save percentage is .930(.9296), which is just a fraction off the NHL lead (Vasilevskiy .9300).

Thomas Greiss is 5-1-1 in the last seven games, allowing a total of seven goals on 220 shots (5-1-1, 0.98 GAA, .968 save percentage). On the season, his GAA is 2.26 and his save percentage is .928 (.9277).

Lehner has won 19 games and Greiss 17.  It's only the 2nd time in the last 15 seasons that the Isles have gotten at least 17 wins from two different goalies.  Greiss won 23 games and Jaroslav Halak 18 in 2015-16.

Best Goals Against Average by An Islander in a Season

1. Chico Resch 1975-76 2.08 

2. Robin Lehner 2018-19 2.10

3. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 2.26

Best Save Percentage by an Islander in a Season 

1. Robin Lehner 2018-19 .930 

2. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 .928 (.9277)

3. Chico Resch 1975-76 .928 (.9276)

4. Thomas Greiss 2015-16 .925

For the + Column

Casey Cizikas was -1 tonight and is now +23 on the season.  In the last 30 seasons, only five Islander forwards have finished +23 or higher.

1. Marty McInnis 1993-94 +31 

2. Benoit Hogue 1991-92 +30

3. Ray Ferraro 1991-92 +25

4. Casey Cizikas 2018-19 +23

        Ryan Strome 2014-15 +23

        Trent Hunter 2003-04 +23

Oh, Canada

The Isles are finishing February with six consecutive games against Canadian opponents.  The Isles are 2-2-1 in this stretch, which matches a similar stretch in December 1980 for the most consecutive games against Canadian teams:

• 2/16 Vs Edm Oilers W 5-2

• 2/20 @ Cal Flames L 2-4

• 2/21 @ Edm Oilers L 3-4 (OT)

• 2/23 @ Van Canucks W 4-0

• 2/26 Vs Cal Flames L 1-3

• 2/28 Vs Tor Maple Leafs

It's Good to be Home

The Isles are 6-2-2 on Coliseum ice; they are averaging 97.7% of capacity on Long Island (including six sellouts).  

 

Most Points Thru 62 Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 82: 2014-15

• 79: 2018-19

Most Points Thru 32 Road Games

• 41: 1976-77

• 39: 2018-19

• 39: 1980-81

• 38: 1977-78

• 38: 1978-79

• 38: 1981-82

• 38: 2014-15

Most Points Thru 30 Home Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 42: 1984-85

• 44: 2014-15

• 42: 1983-84

• 42: 2003-04

• 41: 1987-88

• 41: 2015-16

• 40: 2018-19

Fewest Goals Allowed Thru 62 Games (Includes SO)

• 149 2018-19

• 149 1975-76

• 149 1976-77

• 153 2003-04

• 154 2015-16

• 154 1977-78

Road Warriors

The Isles are 9-3-2 in their last 14 road games and 12-4-2 in their last 18 road games.  

Worst to First

The Isles allowed the most goals in the NHL last season.  Only once in NHL history has a team allowed the most goals in one season and the fewest in the next; the Ottawa Senators did so in 1917-18 and 1918-19.   Here's where the Isles are this season:  

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (Including SO goals) 

The Jennings Trophy is awarded based on goals allowed including shootout goals.

1. ISLES 149

2. Boston 160

3.     Dallas 162 (not including Tuesday at Vegas)

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)

1. ISLES 144

2. Boston 157 

3. Dallas 162 (not including Tuesday at Vegas)

Coach Trotz

Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 798-587-60-141 in 1,586 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  890

3. Ken Hitchcock    840 

4. Barry Trotz   798

5. Al Arbour   782

Most Games Coached

1. Scotty Bowman   2,141

2. Joel Quenneville 1,636

3. Al Arbour   1,607

4. Barry Trotz   1,586

5. Ken Hitchcock   1,577

Trotz, who will coach his 1,600th game on March 24th, will catch Al Arbour in games coached on Opening Night next season. If Quenneville doesn't return to coaching Trotz would pass him sometime in December 2019.

This Season vs. Last Season

This Season: 36-19-7 (79 points), with 179 goals scored and 149 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

Last Season: 29-26-7 (65 points), with 206 goals scored and 223 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

The Isles have allowed 74 fewer goals, a decrease of 33.2% as compared to last season.

Last Season (final): 35-37-10 (80 points), with 264 goals scored and 296 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

First Things First

The Isles are 22-7-5 when scoring first and are 14-12-2 when allowing the opening goal (which includes a 1-0 shootout loss).  

The Shots

Isles   5-12-10=27

Calgary 9-10-8=27

The Isles are 10-11-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-2-0 when the shots are even and 26-6-6 when they are outshot. [The 26 wins when outshot are a franchise record; they won 25 in both 1983-84 and 2017-18.]

Home and Road

The Islanders are 36-19-7 overall; 18-8-4 at home (6-2-2 on Long Island and 12-6-2 in Brooklyn) and 18-11-3 on the road.  All their remaining regular season home games are at the Nassau Coliseum.

Calgary is 40-16-7 overall; 20-5-5 at home and 20-11-2 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 15-5-1 in Division games and 21-15-5 in games versus other divisions.  The Isles are 21-9-5 against the East and 15-11-1 against the West.  

In the Nets

Robin Lehner made 24 saves but falls to 19-10-5 on the season and 3-2-1 in his career against Calgary.   

Mike Smith made 26 saves and improves to 19-11-2 on the season and 7-4-0 against the Islanders. 

Power Plays

The Isles were 0-4 on the power play in 8:00 of PP time; Calgary was 1-5 on the power play in 6:37 of PP time (including a 90 second 5-on-3).

The Isles are 22-2-2 when they score at least one power play goal and 14-17-5 when they do not.  The Isles are 13-12-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 23-7-2 when they do not.

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 30-2-2 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 6-17-5 when they do not.  

One Goal Games

The Isles are 14-4-7 in games decided by a single goal including 6-4 in regulation. They are 5-2 in games decided in overtime and are 3-5 in shootouts.  The Isles are 4-5 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.

Tired vs. Rested 

• The Isles are 4-0-0 when both teams played the night before. 

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

• The Isles are 5-0-1 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.

• The Isles are 21-19-5 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Johnny Boychuk (22:16); Calgary: Mark Giordano (24:07)

Mathew Barzal led Isles forwards with 20:31 of ice-time.

Isles record by ice-time leader: Ryan Pulock (18-8-5), Nick Leddy (13-9-2), Scott Mayfield (5-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (0-1-0).

Face-offs

Isles 19, Calgary 31 (38%).  

Josh Bailey won all 4 of his draws for the Isles; Derek Ryan won 9 of 11 for Calgary.

Face-offs by period: 1st period  5/14; 2nd period 6/19; 3rd period 8/17.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 13/34, Power play 4/8, Penalty kill 2/8.

Hit Count

Isles 18 (Matt Martin -4)  

Calgary 18 (Matthew Tkachuk -5)

   

Fights

There were no fights. Season total –13 (Scott Mayfield -4, Ross Johnston-3, Matt Martin -2, Anders Lee- 2, Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk).  

 

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 18 shots (Johnny Boychuk -4) 

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 53, Calgary 55

5-on-5 Isles 33, Calgary 45

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Mathew Barzal +14

Calgary: TJ Brodie +11

Back-to-Backs

The Isles are 6-3-1 in the front half and 9-0-1 in the back half. The next back-to-back is February 28-March 1 vs. Toronto and Washington.

The Isles won the first nine back-ends of back-to-backs this season, establishing a new club record for consecutive wins in back ends. 

Night and Day

The Isles are 30-17-7 in night games and 6-2-0 in matinees. The next matinee is on March 3rd vs. Philadelphia (at the Coliseum). 

Ironmen

Anders Lee 180, Brock Nelson 157, Mathew Barzal 144.  Four other Isles: Nick Leddy, Ryan Pulock, Josh Bailey and Leo Komarov have appeared in every game this season.

Scratches

Scott Mayfield, Tom Kuhnhackl, Luca Sbisa, Ross Johnston, Dennis Seidenberg

Total games lost: 122

Comeback Kings

The Isles are 6-4-1 when trailing in a game by a 2-0 score, defeating NYR (11/15), CBJ (12/1), DET (12/8), OTT (12/28), STL (1/5) and COL (2/9 - OT), while earning a point vs. EDM (2/21 – OTL).

The Isles are 14-1-1 when scoring the game's first two goals.

Late Heroes

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

1/10- NY Rangers-Josh Bailey scored the winning goal (18:34)

Late Goals Allowed

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

10/4 – CAR Hurricanes – Jordan Staal tied game (18:25), but Isles won in overtime.

11/8 – TB Lightning – Tyler Johnson scored the winning goal (18:34)

11/23 – NJ Devils – Marcus Johansson tied game (19:49), but Isles won in overtime.

12/15- DET Red Wings – Thomas Vanek tied game (18:57), but Isles won in a shootout.

Offside Challenges

12/8 vs DET Red Wings – Red Wings goal overturned after successful Isles challenge.

12/20 vs VEG Golden Knights – Golden Knights goal overturned after successful Isles challenge.

1/8 vs CAR Hurricanes – Isles goal overturned after successful Hurricane challenge

2/5 vs BOS Bruins – Isles goal overturned after successful Bruin challenge.

All-time Islander Leader Boards:

Games Played (skaters)

1. Bryan Trottier 1123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1060 *** 3. Bob Nystrom 900 *** 4. Clark Gillies 872 *** 

5. Bob Bourne 814***6. Josh Bailey 777

Goals

1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …

16. Mariusz Czerkawski and Anders Lee 145 *** 18. Kyle Okposo 139 ***19. Josh Bailey 138…

24. Mark Parrish, Matt Moulson, Steve Thomas and Brock Nelson 118

Assists

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

11. Derek King 288 ***12. Josh Bailey 286 …

25. David Volek 154 *** 26. Mariusz Czerkawski 150 *** 27. Nick Leddy 147

Points

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

12. Patrick Flatley 488 *** 13. Billy Harris 443 *** 14. Josh Bailey 424…

23. Ed Westfall 286 *** 24. Jason Blake 258 *** 25. David Volek 249 *** 26. Anders Lee 248

Games Played (Goalies)

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

7. Glenn Healy 176 *** 8. Thomas Greiss 150

Wins (Goalie)

1. Billy Smith 304 *** 2. Glenn Resch 157 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 130*** 4. Kelly Hrudey 108***

5. Jaroslav Halak 88 *** 6.  Thomas Greiss 79

Shutouts (Goalie)

1. Glenn Resch 25 ***2. Billy Smith 22 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 16 *** 4. Tommy Salo 14***

5. Jaroslav Halak 12 *** 6.  Evgeni Nabokov and Thomas Greiss 9

Season Series Stats

Calgary sweeps the season series two games to none (and 4 points to 0).   

The Isles are 1-4-0 in their last five games against the Flames and have lost consecutive home games to Calgary won the first time since they lost six straight between 1997 and 2004.

On the Farm  

The Sound Tigers defeated Hershey 5-1 on Sunday; Christopher Gibson made 25 saves and Steve Bernier had a goal and two assists as Bridgeport completed a sweep of their three game weekend series and recorded their fifth straight win.

 

The Sound Tigers are 9-1-1-0 in their last 11 games (including three OT wins and two shootout wins) and have improved to 33-18-5-2 on the season. Bridgeport begins a 5-game road trip in Hershey on Friday.

Leaders:  Goals: Steve Bernier 18; Assists: Sebastian Aho 32; Points: Chris Bourque 44; +/-: Otto Koivula 17 (only AHL rookie with at least 17 goals and at least +17).  Goalies: Jeremy Smith 16-9-3 (2.92 GAA); Christopher Gibson 17-9-4 (2.96 GAA)

Up Next

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th – TORONTO AT ISLANDERS AT NASSAU COLISEUM 7:00PM 

[MSG+ (Pre-game at 6:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM,WRCN 103.9FM, Radio.com] 

The five-game homestand continues as the Isles welcome John Tavares and the Maple Leafs to the Coliseum.

It's the second meeting of the season between the squads; Robin Lehner made 36 saves and Calder-winner Mathew Barzal had a natural hat trick as the Isles defeated Toronto 4-0 at Scotiabank Center on December 29th. 

The Isles are 5-3-0 in their last eight home games against the Leafs; their win in Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak to the Leafs.

The Isles will close out the home portion of the regular season when the Leafs return on April 1st.

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