The Skinny: Isles 4, Vancouver 0

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 61

Isles 4, Vancouver 0

Robin Lehner made 36 saves for his fourth career shutout and 11 different Islanders figured in the scoring as the Isles completed a sweep of the season series with the Canucks, defeating Vancouver 4-0 before a crowd of 18,871 at Rogers Arena. 

Lehner's shutout is the eighth for the Islanders this season; it's the first time in club history that two goalies have recorded four shutouts in the same season.  The Isles have recorded five shutouts in their last 15 games; it's the first time the Isles have ever had five shutouts in a 15-game span within a single season.

The Isles finish the Western Canada swing 1-1-1 and improve to 12-3-3 in their last 18 games as their lead in the Metro increases to four points over Washington (who lost to Buffalo 5-2).   

The Scoring:  

1st Period

Casey Cizikas (17) Johnny Boychuk, Devon Toews 04:48 NYI 1,VAN 0

Ryan Pulock (7) Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech 14:05 NYI 2,VAN 0

2nd Period

No Goals

3rd Period

Anthony Beauvillier (14) Josh Bailey, Valtteri Filppula 02:34 NYI 3,VAN 0

Cal Clutterbuck (8)EN Brock Nelson 18:46 NYI 4,VAN 0

The Skinny      

Casey Cizikas now has five of the last 18 Isles goals; it's the first time in his professional career he has scored 17 goals in a season [16 between Bridgeport and the Isles in 2012-13]… The Isles are 19-5-3 since Devon Toews joined the lineup and are 22-6-3 in their last 31 games; Toews now has an assist in five straight games…The Isles have surpassed last season's win total (36); including shootout winners they have scored 29 fewer goals and allowed 73 fewer goals than last year's first 61 games… The Isles have 40 points at home and 39 points on the road … For the 27th straight game, the Isles did not allow three goals in any period.  That establishes a new club record, breaking the previous mark (26), which was set in February-March 1976…The Isles are 6-2-1 in their last nine games…The Isles are 7-3-2 in February as they have clinched a winning record for the 5th straight month… Casey Cizikas was +2; he improves to +24 on the season, a mark no Islander forward (Marty McInnis +31 in 1993-94) has reached in the last 25 years… Anthony Beauvillier scored for the first time in six games and went a season-high +3…The Isles were outshot 109-65 on the road trip…Ryan Pulock, who scored on a delayed penalty, is 4-7-11  in his last 11 games.

Towards the Top

The Isles are 22-6-3 since December 15; only Tampa Bay (22-4-3) has as many wins and points in that span.

With the point, the Isles regain 5th place overall with 79 points, one point ahead of Toronto and Winnipeg. The Isles are one point behind San Jose and two points behind Boston.

Take a Third Off

Through 61 games, the Isles have allowed 146 goals (including shootouts).  That is 73 goals fewer than they allowed through 61 games last season, meaning they have allowed 1/3rd fewer goals this season than last season.

Strength in the Nets

Robin Lehner is 15-3-2 (1.68, .943) in his last 20 decisions. He lowered his NHL-leading GAA is 2.07 and his save percentage is .931 (.9307), which is also now the best in the NHL  (Vasilevskiy .9305).

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. Robin Lehner 2018-19 2.07

2. Chico Resch 1975-76 2.08 

3. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 2.26

Best Save Percentage by an Islander in a Season 

1. Robin Lehner 2018-19 .931 

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 +2 tonight and is now +24 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 +24

5. 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 2-1-1 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

• 2/28 Vs Tor Maple Leafs

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 61 Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 80: 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 29 Home Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 42: 1984-85

• 42: 2014-15

• 40: 2003-04

• 40: 2018-19

Fewest Goals Allowed Thru 61 Games (Includes SO)

• 146 2018-19

• 147 1975-76

• 148 1976-77

• 151 2015-16

• 151 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.  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 146

2. Boston 159

        Dallas 159

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)

1. ISLES 141

2. Boston 156 

3. Dallas 159 

Coach Trotz

Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 798-586-60-141 in 1,585 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   1,585

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: 36-18-7 (79 points), with 178 goals scored and 146 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

Last Season: 29-26-6 (64 points), with 203 goals scored and 219 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

The Isles have allowed 73 fewer goals, a decrease of 33.3% 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 227-5 when scoring first and are 14-11-2 when allowing the opening goal (which includes a 1-0 shootout loss).  

The Shots

Isles          11-3-9=23

Vancouver 15-15-6=36

The Isles are 10-11-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 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 36-18-7 overall; 18-7-4 at home (6-1-2 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.

Vancouver is 26-28-8 overall; 13-12-4 at home and 13-16-4 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 15-5-1 in Division games and 21-14-5 in games versus other divisions.  The Isles are 21-9-5 against the East and 15-10-1 against the West.  

In the Nets

Robin Lehner made 36 saves and improves to 19-9-5 on the season and 2-2-0 in his career against Vancouver.   

Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves but falls to 22-18-7 on the season and 2-5-0 against the Islanders. 

Power Plays

The Isles were 0-1 on the power play in 2:00 of PP time; Vancouver was 0-4 on the power play in 7:36 of PP time.

The Isles are 22-2-2 when they score at least one power play goal and 14-16-5 when they do not.  The Isles are 13-11-5 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 6-16-5 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 21-18-5 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Ryan Pulock (22:16); Vancouver: Ben Hutton (25:54)

Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 19:25 of ice-time.

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

Face-offs

Isles 21, Vancouver 25 (46%).  

Brock Nelson won 8 of 12 for the Isles; Bo Horvat won 12 of 21 for Vancouver.

Face-offs by period: 1st period  10/18; 2nd period 4/12; 3rd period 7/16.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 18/40, Power play 1/1, Penalty kill 2/5.

Hit Count

Isles 22 (Cal Clutterbuck-5)  

Vancouver 12 (Two with 3)

   

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 25 shots (Ryan Pulock -6) 

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 36, Vancouver 75  (Including 34-7 Vancouver in the 2nd period)

5-on-5 Isles 32, Vancouver 57

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas  - EVEN

Vancouver: Josh Leivo and Bo Horvat +16

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 30-16-7 in night games and 6-2-0 in matinees. The next matinee is on March 3rd vs. Philadelphia (at the Coliseum). 

Ironmen

Anders Lee 179, Brock Nelson 156, Mathew Barzal 143.  Four other Isles: Nick Leddy, Ryan Pulock, Josh Bailey and Leo Komarov have appeared in every game this season.

Scratches

(Thomas Hickey-INJ, Andrew Ladd-INJ), Luca Sbisa, Ross Johnston

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 776

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 137…

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 423…

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

The Isles sweep the season series two games to none (and 4 points to 0).   

The Isles have won six of the last seven games between the teams and have swept the season series for the second time in three seasons.

The Isles are 5-2-1 in their last seven games in Vancouver.

On the Farm  

As it has almost all month, the Sound Tigers went beyond 60 minutes and won on both Friday and Saturday.

Friday in Providence, the Sound Tigers prevailed 5-4 in OT, Josh Ho-Sang had three assists and Michael Dal Colle had two.  Both players assisted on Mitch Vande Sompel's OT winner.   Bridgeport let a 3-1 lead get away, but Dal Colle scored the only goal in the shootout for a 4-3 win over Springfield on Saturday.

The Sound Tigers are 8-1-1-0 in their last ten games (including three OT wins and two shootout wins) and have improved to 32-18-5-2 on the season. Bridgeport hosts Hershey on Sunday before setting out on a 5-game road trip.

Leaders:  Goals: Otto Koivula 17 (4th among AHL rookies)/Steve Bernier 17; Assists: Sebastian Aho 32; Points: Chris Bourque 43; +/-: 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 16-9-4 (3.03 GAA)

Up Next

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26th – CALGARY AT ISLANDERS AT NASSAU COLISEUM 7:00PM 

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

The Isles return home to begin a five-game homestand on Tuesday against the Western Conference-leading Calgary Flames. 

The Flames broke a 2-2 tie early in the third with two quick goals to give them a 4-2 win over the Isles on Wednesday.

The Isles have won six of the last nine games between the teams but will need a home-ice win on Tuesday to earn a split with the Flames for the third straight season.

On home-ice, the Isles are 6-2-0 against the Flames in their last eight meetings. This will be the Flames' first game on Long Island in four years, less one day.  Cal Clutterbuck had the winning tally in a 2-1 win for the Isles on February 27, 2015.

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