The Skinny: Isles 3, Columbus 0

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 57

Isles 3, Columbus 0

Casey Cizikas scored two breakaway goals and Thomas Greiss made 31 saves for his third shutout in his last five games as the Islanders defeated Columbus 3-0 before 16,531 at Nationwide Arena.

Greiss, who has allowed only three goals in his last six games (5-0-1) improved his save percentage to .930, grabbing the NHL lead from Robin Lehner (.929).

The Isles improve to 10-2-2 in their last 14 games as they maintained their three point lead in the Metro over Washington (who won in San Jose) and increased their lead to seven points over Columbus and Pittsburgh.

The Scoring:  

1st Period

Casey Cizikas (14) Cal Clutterbuck, Thomas Greiss 07:06 NYI 1,CBJ 0

2nd Period

Casey Cizikas (15) Devon Toews, Josh Bailey 05:50 NYI 2,CBJ 0

Josh Bailey (13) Tom Kuhnhackl, Mathew Barzal 19:19 NYI 3,CBJ 0

3rd Period

No Goals

The Skinny       

Casey Cizikas scored the first two goals, extended his career high in goals (15); he is the third Islander to score three consecutive team goals this season, joining Mathew Barzal (natural hat trick vs. Toronto) and Cal Clutterbuck (vs Washington-Anaheim). Cizikas is now +20 on the season, a mark only one Islander forward (Ryan Strome +23 in 2014-15) has reached in the last 15 years… The Isles are 17-4-2 since Devon Toews joined the lineup and are 20-5-2 in their last 27 games … The Isles are 14 points ahead of last season's pace through 57 games; including shootout winners they have scored 29 fewer goals and allowed 74 fewer goals than last year's first 57 games… The Isles have 38 points at home and 36 points on the road; their 74 points is the 3rd-highest total in the East (Toronto's victory in Vegas moves them to 75) … For the 23rd 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 went 25 games in February-March 1979…  The Isles are 4-1-0 in their last five games…The Isles are 5-2-1 in February; they have had a winning record every month this season… The Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck line has started every game that the trio has played in 2019…Captain Anders Lee played in his 400th NHL game, all for the Isles.  He is the 45th skater to appear in at least 400 Islander games.  Six other current Islanders have appeared in at least 400 (Bailey, Martin, Cizikas, Nelson, Hickey and Clutterbuck).

Shutout Stuff

This is only the third time in Islander history that they have had at least seven shutouts in a season:

• 1975-76 10

• 1997-98 8

• 2018-19 7

The Isles have two shutouts in February after having two in January.  It's only the second time in franchise history that they have had multiple shutouts in consecutive months.  The Isles had three shutouts in December 1975 and two in January 1976.

Thomas Greiss is the first Isles goalie since Rick DiPietro (December 16-26, 2006) to record three shutouts in a five appearance stretch. Greiss has allowed only two goals in the five games; DiPietro allowed eight.

Greiss now has nine shutouts as an Islander, tying Evgeni Nabokov for 6th place on the all-time Isles list.  Greiss has four shutouts this season; it is the 12th time an Isles netminder has recorded at least four in a season.

Seventeenth Heaven

The Isles have 17 wins at home and 17 wins on the road; Thomas Greiss has 17 wins and so does Robin Lehner.

Top of the Heap

The Isles are 20-5-2 in their last 27 games, giving them the most wins and the best record in the entire NHL since December 15.  

Strength in the Nets

Robin Lehner is 13-3-1 (1.62, .943) in his last 17 decisions. On the season, his NHL-leading GAA is 2.08 and his save percentage is .929.

Thomas Greiss is 5-0-1 in the last six games, allowing a total of three goals on 188 shots (5-0-1, 0.48 GAA, .984 save percentage). On the season, his GAA is 2.20 and his NHL-leading save percentage is .930.

Lehner has won 17 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  (2.079)

2. Robin Lehner 2018-19 2.08 (2.082)

3. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 2.20

Best Saves Percentage by an Islander in a Season 

1. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 .930

2. Robin Lehner 2018-19 .929

3. Chico Resch 1975-76 .928

4. Thomas Greiss 2015-16 .925

Keeping it Close 

When Josh Bailey scored late in the second period, he gave the Isles a 3-goal lead for the first time in nine games (3-0 win over Anaheim). The Isles have not trailed by three goals at any point since a 6-2 loss in Pittsburgh on December 6th.

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 57 Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 75: 2014-15

• 74: 2018-19

Most Points Thru 29 Road Games

• 37: 1976-77

• 37: 1978-79

• 36: 2018-19

Fewest Goals Allowed Thru 57 Games (Includes SO)

• 136 2018-19

• 140 1975-76

• 140 1976-77

• 142 2003-04

• 144 1977-78

• 144 2015-16

Road Warriors

The Isles are 8-2-1 in their last 11 road games and 11-3-1 in their last 15 road games. The Isles went 11-2-2 (24 points) in a 15-game road stretch late in the 1981-82 season; that is the only time in franchise history that the Isles have earned more than the 23 points in a single-season 15-game road stretch.

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) 

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

1. ISLES 136

2. Dallas 146

3. Boston 148

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)

1. ISLES 131

2. Dallas 146

  Boston 146

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 96 assists, 134 points

Barzal's 22nd birthday is not until May.

Coach Trotz

Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 796-585-60-140 in 1,581 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  890

3. Ken Hitchcock    838 

4. Barry Trotz   796

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   1,581

5. Ken Hitchcock   1,572

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: 34-17-6 (74 points), with 164 goals scored and 136 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

Last Season: 27-24-6 (60 points), with 193 goals scored and 210 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

The Isles have allowed 74 fewer goals, a decrease of 35.2% 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 20-7-5 when scoring first and are 14-10-1 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

• 1978-79 15-10-6 .581

• 2018-19  14-10-1 .580

• 1977-78 16-11-5 .578

The Shots

Isles     10-10-7=27

Columbus 13-9-9=31

The Isles are 10-11-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even and 24-5-5 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 34-17-6 overall; 17-7-4 at home (6-1-2 on Long Island and 11-6-2 in Brooklyn) and 17-10-2 on the road.  The Isles will play 21 games in Uniondale and 20 games in Brooklyn this season.

Columbus is 32-21-3 overall; 15-12-2 at home and 17-9-1 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 15-5-1 in Division games and 19-12-5 in games versus other divisions.  The Isles are 21-9-5 against the East and 13-8-1 against the West.  

In the Nets

Thomas Greiss made 31 saves and improves to 17-8-2 on the season and 7-6-3 in his career against Columbus.   

Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves but falls to 23-17-1 on the season and 15-7-0 against the Islanders. 

Power Plays

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

The Isles are 21-2-1 when they score at least one power play goal and 13-15-5 when they do not.  The Isles are 12-10-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 22-7-2 when they do not.

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 28-2-1 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 6-15-5 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 20-17-5 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Nick Leddy (21:58); Columbus: Seth Jones (24:16)

Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 19:50 of ice-time.

Isles record by ice-time leader: Ryan Pulock (16-7-4), Nick Leddy (13-9-2), Scott Mayfield (5-1-0).

Face-offs

Isles 23, Columbus 31 (43%).  

Casey Cizikas won 12 of 21 for the Isles; Boone Jenner won 14 of 18 for Columbus.

Face-offs by period: 1st period  9/19; 2nd period 10/22; 3rd period 4/13.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 22/49, Power play 1/3, Penalty kill 0/2.

Hit Count

Isles 19 (Matt Martin -4)  

Columbus 28 (Boone Jenner -5)

   

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 21 shots (Scott Mayfield -5) 

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 48, Columbus 65

5-on-5 Isles 44, Columbus 60

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Mathew Barzal & Devon Toews -1

Columbus: Alexander Wennberg +11

Back-to-Backs

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

Night and Day

The Isles are 28-15-6 in night games and 6-2-0 in matinees. The next matinee is on March 3rd vs. Philadelphia (at the Coliseum). 

Ironmen

Anders Lee 175, Brock Nelson 152, Mathew Barzal 139

Scratches

(Andrew Ladd – IR), (Thomas Hickey- IR),Michael Dal Colle, Luca Sbisa, Ross Johnston

Total games lost: 115

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.

Comeback Kings

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 13-1-1 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 772

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 137…

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 282 …

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 419…

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 149

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

The Isles lead the season series two games to none (and 4 points to 0).  The teams will meet again at the Coliseum on March 11th and conclude the season series on March 26th at Nationwide.  

The Isles have won three of the last four overall against Columbus and snapped a 4-game losing streak in Ohio (having been outscored 24-6).

On the Farm  

Bridgeport begins another 3-in-3 weekend in Lehigh Valley on Friday. The Sound Tigers have won four of their last five games and are 28-18-4-2 on the season. 

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th – ISLANDERS AT EDMONTON AT BARCLAYS CENTER 7:00PM 

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

The only two teams that the Isles have not faced this season share the Province of Alberta.  That will change over the next five games as the Isles will play both Edmonton and Calgary twice, beginning with the Oilers on Saturday at Barclays Center.

It will be the 143rd regular season game in Brooklyn and the final one this season.  After Saturday, the Isles' final 12 home games will all be at the Nassau Coliseum.

The Oilers swept a pair of games last season, both by 2-1 scores, and both beyond regulation. Connor McDavid scored the overtime winner in Brooklyn, and then scored the winner in a shootout in Edmonton (after being stopped by Christopher Gibson on an overtime penalty shot).

The game will feature the NHL's winningest active coaches as Barry Trotz' Islanders face Ken Hitchcock's Oilers.

It's the first of six straight games against Canadian opponents that will end February.  That ties the Isles' longest stretch of facing Canadian opposition – done only once before, in December 1980.

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