"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 55
Isles 2, Minnesota 1
Devon Toews scored a power play goal 2:01 into the second period to break a 1-1 tie and the Isles protected that lead for a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild before 13,825 at Barclays Center.
The Isles are 9-1-2 in their last 12 games. They are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games and have won four straight games at Barclays Center.
The Isles' lead in the Metro is now a season-high five points over Washington; it's the first time since February 19, 2015 that the Isles have had a five-point lead in their division, and it matches their largest lead in the division since they had a seven-point lead on November 7, 2001.
The Scoring:
1st Period
Anthony Beauvillier (13) Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov 14:05 MIN 0,NYI 1
2nd Period
Mikael Granlund (13) Jason Zucker, Zach Parise 00:38 MIN 1,NYI 1 PPG
Devon Toews (4) Ryan Pulock, Josh Bailey 02:01 MIN 1,NYI 2 PPG
3rd Period
No Goals
The Skinny
Anthony Beauvillier matched a career-high with seven shots as he scored his first goal in 12 games…The Isles are 16-3-2 since Devon Toews joined the lineup and are 19-4-2 in their last 25 games … Only four rookie defensemen (all of whom have been on the NHL roster all season) have more goals than Devon Toews…Toews is the first Isles rookie defensemen in at least the least 32 years to record two game-winning goals in his first 21 NHL games; only three forwards have done it- one of whom is Michael DalColle…The Isles are 14 points ahead of last season's pace through 55 games; including shootout winners they have scored 24 fewer goals and allowed 67 fewer goals than last year's first 55 games… Ryan Pulock has seven points in the last five games (2-5-7)…The Isles have 38 points at home and 34 points on the road; they move 10 games over NHL-.500 at home for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 season… For the 21st straight game, the Isles did not allow three goals in any period. That's the longest (single-season) streak of its kind since the Isles also went 21 games in January – February 1983… With the win, the Isles are now 17 games over NHL-.500 for the first time since ending the 2015-16 season with a 45-27-10 record; the Isles have won three straight – it's their fifth winning streak of at least three games this season.
Back-to-Backs
Including today, the Isles are 6-2-1 in the front half and 9-0-0 in the back half. The next back-to-back is February 20-21 in Calgary and Edmonton
The Isles are 9-0-0 in back-ends of back-to-backs this season, establishing a new club record for consecutive wins in back ends:
• 9- October 18, 2018- CURRENT
• 8- January 22-March 14, 1976
• 8- March 26- November 22, 1978 (over two seasons)
• 7- February 28- November 11, 1981 (over two seasons)
• 7- November 12, 1980 – January 3, 1981
Most Game-Winning Goals in a Season by an Islander Rookie Defensemen
• 3 - Denis Potvin 1973-74
• 2 - Scott Lachance 1992-93
• 2 - Mathieu Biron 1999-2000
• 2 - Chris Campoli 2005-06
• 2 - Devon Toews 2018-19
Top of the Heap
The Isles are 19-4-2 in their last 25 games, giving them the most wins and the best record in the entire NHL since December 15.
Strength in the Nets
Robin Lehner is 13-2-1 (1.53, .947) in his last 16 decisions. His NHL-leading GAA is 2.05 and his NHL-leading save percentage (minimum 19 games) is .930.
Thomas Greiss is 4-0-1 in the last five games, allowing a total of three goals on 157 shots (4-0-1, 0.58 GAA, .981 save percentage).
Lehner has won 17 games and Greiss 16. It's only the 2nd time in the last 15 seasons that the Isles have gotten at least 16 wins from two different goalies. Greiss won 23 games and Jaroslav Halak 18 in 2015-16.
Moving On Up
Thomas Greiss recorded his 78th win as an Islander goalie, breaking a tie with Roland Melanson for 6th on the all-time list.
It's Good to be Home
The Isles are 6-1-2 on Coliseum ice; they are averaging 98.1% of capacity on Long Island (including six sellouts).
Most Points Thru 55 Games (Post-Cup Era)
• 73: 2014-15
• 72: 2018-19
Most Points Thru 27 Road Games
• 36: 1976-77
• 34: 2018-19
• 33: 1978-79
• 33: 1980-81
Fewest Goals Allowed Thru 55 Games (Includes SO)
• 133 2018-19
• 136 1975-76
• 136 2003-04
• 137 1977-78
• 138 1976-77
Road Warriors
The Isles are 7-1-1 in their last nine road games and 10-2-1 in their last 13 road games. The 21 points in 13 games match the club record for a 13-game stretch (done several times, including earlier this season).
Worst to First
The Isles allowed the most goals in the NHL last season. Here's where they are this season:
Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (Including SO goals)
1. ISLES 133
2. Dallas 140
3. Boston 145
Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)
1. ISLES 128
2. Dallas 140
3. Boston 143
Last 30 Seasons: Most Goals by an Islander Before 22nd Birthday:
1. John Tavares 84
2. Anthony Beauvillier 43
Beauvillier's 22nd birthday is not until June.
Last 30 Seasons: Most Assists and Points by an Islander Before 22nd Birthday:
1. John Tavares 118 assists, 202 points
2. Mathew Barzal 95 assists, 133 points
Barzal's 22nd birthday is not until May.
Most 3+ Point Games by an Islander Before Age 22
• 34 Bryan Trottier
• 18 John Tavares
• 16 Denis Potvin
• 14 Mike Bossy
• 12 Mathew Barzal
• 12 Pat LaFontaine
Coach Trotz
Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 795-584-60-140 in 1,579 games.
Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman 1,244
2. Joel Quenneville 890
3. Ken Hitchcock 838
4. Barry Trotz 795
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 1,579
5. Ken Hitchcock 1,571
Trotz 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: 33-16-6 (72 points), with 160 goals scored and 133 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
Last Season: 26-23-6 (58 points), with 184 goals scored and 201 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
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 19-7-5 when scoring first and are 14-9-1 when allowing the opening goal (which includes a 1-0 shootout loss). The Isles won 12 games all last season (12-27-5) when allowing the opening goal.
Best Winning Percentage When Allowing First Goal
• 1981-82 17-8-5 .650
• 2018-19 14-9-1 .583
• 1978-79 15-10-6 .581
• 1977-78 16-11-5 .578
The Shots
Isles 15-10-9=34
Minnesota 9-6-12=27
The Isles are 10-10-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even and 23-5-5 when they are outshot. [The club record for wins when being outshot is 25, set in 1983-84 and equaled last season.]
Home and Road
The Islanders are 33-16-6 overall; 17-7-4 at home (6-1-2 on Long Island and 11-6-2 in Brooklyn) and 16-9-2 on the road. The Isles will play 21 games in Uniondale and 20 games in Brooklyn this season.
Minnesota is 27-24-5 overall; 13-10-4 at home and 14-14-1 on the road.
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 14-5-1 in Division games and 19-11-5 in games versus other divisions. The Isles are 20-8-5 against the East and 13-8-1 against the West.
In the Nets
Thomas Greiss made 26 saves; he improves to 16-8-2 on the season and 4-3-0 in his career against Minnesota.
Devyn Dubnyk made 32 saves but falls to 21-19-4 on the season and 5-5-0 against the Islanders.
Power Plays
The Isles were 1-6 on the power play in 8:37 of PP time; Minnesota was 1-3 on the power play in 3:00 of PP time.
The Isles are 21-2-1 when they score at least one power play goal and 12-14-5 when they do not. The Isles are 12-10-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 21-6-2 when they do not.
Three is (Usually) a Magic Number
The Isles are 27-2-1 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 6-14-5 when they do not.
One Goal Games
The Isles are 14-4-6 in games decided by a single goal including 6-4 in regulation. They are 5-1 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 5-0-1 when they are rested, and their opponents are not.
• The Isles are 5-0-0 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.
• The Isles are 19-16-5 when both teams are rested.
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Nick Leddy (23:18); Minnesota: Ryan Suter (26:51)
Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 18:02 of ice-time.
Isles record by ice-time leader: Ryan Pulock (16-7-4), Nick Leddy (12-8-2), Scott Mayfield (5-1-0).
Face-offs
Isles 27, Minnesota 28 (49%).
Brock Nelson won 8 of 14 for the Isles; Eric Staal won 10 of 19 for Minnesota.
Face-offs by period: 1st period 10/20; 2nd period 11/19; 3rd period 6/16.
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 20/41, Power play 5/9, Penalty kill 2/5.
Hit Count
Isles 15 (Leo Komarov-3)
Minnesota 17 (Joel Eriksson Ek-3)
Fights
There were no fights. Season total –12 (Scott Mayfield -4, Ross Johnston-3, Matt Martin -2, Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk, Anders Lee).
Blocked Shots
The Isles blocked 18 shots (Johnny Boychuk -3)
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 58, Minnesota 56
5-on-5 Isles 40, Minnesota 43
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Anthony Beauvillier & Valtteri Filppula +8
Minnesota: Joel Eriksson Ek +7
Night and Day
The Isles are 27-14-6 in night games and 6-2-0 in matinees. The next matinee is on March 3rd vs. Philadelphia (at the Coliseum).
Ironmen
Anders Lee 173, Brock Nelson 150, Mathew Barzal 137
Scratches
(Andrew Ladd – IR), (Thomas Hickey- IR),(Cal Clutterbuck-INJ), Luca Sbisa, Ross Johnston
Total games lost: 111
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.
A Familiar Finish
The Isles are 6-3-0 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); the first five wins were all in regulation.
The Isles are 12-1-1 when scoring the game's first two goals.
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 770
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
16. Mariusz Czerkawski 145 *** 17. Anders Lee 142 *** 18. Kyle Okposo 139 ***19. Josh Bailey 136…
24. Mark Parrish, Matt Moulson and Steve Thomas 118 *** 27. Ray Ferraro and Brock Nelson 116
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553…
11. Derek King 288 ***12. Josh Bailey 281 …
25. David Volek 154 *** 26. Mariusz Czerkawski 150 *** 27. Nick Leddy 146
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052…
12. Patrick Flatley 488 *** 13. Billy Harris 443 *** 14. Josh Bailey 417…
23. Ed Westfall 286 *** 24. Jason Blake 258 *** 25. David Volek 249 *** 26. Anders Lee 244
Games Played (Goalies)
1. Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282 …
7. Glenn Healy 176 *** 8. Thomas Greiss 148
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 78
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 9 *** 7. Thomas Greiss 8
Season Series Stats
The Isles lead the season series one game to none (and 2 points to 0). The teams will conclude the season series on St. Patrick's Day in St. Paul.
The win snaps a three-game Islander losing streak against the Wild.
On the Farm
The Sound Tigers are 28-18-4-2 on the season following wins over Providence on Saturday (4-2) and Utica (5-4 in overtime) on Sunday.
Tanner Fritz had a goal and an assist on Saturday as the Tigers rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the victory; on Sunday, Fritz had the overtime winner.
The Sound Tigers have won four of their last five games and are now off until they begin another 3-in-3 weekend on Friday in Lehigh Valley.
Leaders: Goals: Michael Dal Colle/Steve Bernier 16; Assists: Chris Bourque 30; Points: Chris Bourque 40. Goalies: Jeremy Smith 14-9-2 (2.89 GAA); Christopher Gibson 14-9-4 (3.00 GAA)
Up Next
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12th – ISLANDERS AT BUFFALO 7:00PM
[MSG+2 (Pre-game at 6:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM,WRCN 103.9FM, Radio.com]
The Isles begin a stretch of five out of six games on the road as they head to Buffalo to face the Sabres. The Isles recorded a 3-1 win on New Year's Eve in their first trip to Buffalo this season and are 5-1-0 in their last six vs. the Sabres.
The teams will conclude their season series on March 30th at the Coliseum.
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
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