"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 73
Boston 5, Isles 0
Sean Kuraly scored twice and Tuukka Rask needed to make only 13 saves for his 45th career shutout as the Bruins beat the Isles 5-0before a sellout crowd of 13,917 at Nassau Coliseum.
The loss drops the Isles two points behind Washington (who beat New Jersey) and leaves them just two points ahead of Pittsburgh (who lost to Carolina in a shootout).
The Isles' magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains 11 and their magic number to win a division for the first time since 1987-88 remains 21.
The Scoring:
1st Period
Sean Kuraly (7) Charlie McAvoy 01:12 BOS 1,NYI 0
2nd Period
Noel Acciari (4) 02:52 BOS 2,NYI 0
Sean Kuraly (8) Danton Heinen 16:17 BOS 3,NYI 0
3rd Period
Patrice Bergeron (28) Joakim Nordstrom, John Moore 06:32 BOS 4,NYI 0
Jake DeBrusk (23) 10:20 BOS 5,NYI 0
The Skinny
The Isles are 28-12-3 in their last 42 games... The Isles have surpassed last season's win and point total; including shootout winners they have scored 29 fewer goals and allowed 85 fewer goals than last year's first 73 games… The Isles have 48 points at home and 43 points on the road … Anders Lee saw his four-game goal streak end; he has nine goals in the last 16 games… Adam Pelech played in his 200th game while Leo Komarov appeared in his 400th NHL game…Sean Kuraly recorded his first NHL multi-goal game; Long Beach native Charlie McAvoy assisted on Kuraly's first goal…The Isles were charged with 22 giveaways; they have been charged with at least 22 four times this month (after only once in the first five months of the season)…It was the third time that the Isles have been shutout this season (5-0 at NYR, 1-0 (SO) vs. Tampa Bay)…The Isles still do not have a power play goal at the Coliseum since the All-Star Break. They are 0-27 in 11 games since the Break and 4-51 this season at the Coliseum. The Isles have also not allowed a power play goal in their last six games in this building…The Bruins shutout the Isles for the first time since November 19, 2011 (also at the Coliseum).
The Injuries
Valtteri Filppula left the game in the first period and Cal Clutterbuck left the game in the 2nd period with upper body injuries. Neither returned.
History Lesson
The Isles tied a franchise record for fewest shots on goal in a home game – 13. The record was set on October 31, 2000, also against Boston, but the Isles won that game 4-2.
This was the fewest shots on goal for the Isles since they had only 12 in Carolina on April 7, 2009. That 2009 game is the only game in club history that they had fewer shots in a shutout defeat.
Real Time History Lesson
The Isles had 31 attempts (2nd fewest in a home game in the Real Time era). They had 30 vs. Anaheim on January 21, 2009.
Metro Playoff Watch
1. Caps 93 points/73 games/39 ROW (Wednesday vs. Tampa Bay)
2. Isles 91 points/73 games/38 ROW (Thursday at Montreal)
3. Penguins 89 points/74 games/38 ROW (Thursday at Nashville)
4. Hurricanes 87 points/72 games/38 ROW (Thursday vs Tampa Bay)
5. Blue Jackets 84 points/73 games/39 ROW (Thursday at Edmonton)
6. Flyers 78 points/73 games/33 ROW (Thursday at Chicago)
Also in Wild Card Race
Canadiens 83 points/73 games/36 ROW (Thursday vs. Isles)
The Blue Jackets currently hold the second Wild Card, so five Metropolitan Division teams are currently in playoff spots.
Magic Numbers:
The Isles' Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is 11. It could go as low as 7 (with a win vs. Montreal on Thursday.
The Isles' Magic Number to clinch the Metropolitan Division is 21. It could go as low as 17 by Thursday (with a Washington regulation loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday and an Islander regulation/overtime win vs. Montreal.
Goal Differential
With the Isles losing by five goals and the Caps winning by three goals tonight, the Isles now have a +30 goal differential to Washington's +28. It is this tie-breaker that had the Isles in first place in the Metro Division entering play today.
22-Game Winner
Thomas Greiss has 22 wins. He is only the fourth goalie in club history to have at least three 22-win seasons, joining Glenn Resch (5), Billy Smith (5), and Rick DiPietro (4).
Strength in the Nets
Thomas Greiss has won 22 games and Robin Lehner has won 20. It's the 1st time in the last 35 years that two different Isles goalies have won at least 20 games; Billy Smith won 23 games and Roland Melanson won 20 in 1983-84.
Best Goals Against Average by An Islander in a Season
1. Chico Resch 1975-76 2.08
2. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 2.21
3. Robin Lehner 2018-19 2.27
4. Chico Resch 1975-76 2.28
5. Jaroslav Halak 2015-16 2.30
Best Save Percentage by an Islander in a Season
1. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 .928 (.9282)
2. Chico Resch 1975-76 .928 (.9276)
3. Robin Lehner 2018-19 .925
4. Thomas Greiss 2015-16 .925
The Best (Fourth) Line in Hockey
The Isles are 29-13-6 when Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck all play. They improved to 13-11-1 when one or more miss a game. All three started the game today but only Cizikas and Martin finished the contest.
For the + Column
Casey Cizikas went -3 and is now +23 on the season. In the last 30 seasons, only six Islander forwards have finished +25 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
Most Goals by an Isle With 0 PP goals
• 22- Bob Nystrom (81-82), Butch Goring (83-84), Randy Wood (87-88)
• 21- Garry Howatt (75-76), Brent Sutter (82-83)
• 20- John Tonelli (85-86), Jason Chimera (16-17)
• 19- Steve Tambellini (80-81), Casey Cizikas (18-19)
It's Good to be Home
The Isles are 10-6-2 on Coliseum ice; they are averaging 96.6% of capacity on Long Island (including 11 sellouts).
Most Points Thru 73 Games (Post-Cup Era)
• 92: 2014-15
• 91: 2018-19
• 87: 2015-16
Most Points Thru 35 Road Games
• 46: 1976-77
• 45: 1980-81
• 43: 2018-19
• 43: 1978-79
• 42: 1975-76
• 42: 2014-15
• 41: 1981-82
• 41: 1977-78
Most Points Thru 38 Home Games (Post-Cup Era)
• 52: 1984-85
• 52: 2003-04
• 52: 2015-16
• 50: 1987-88
• 48: 2018-19
• 48: 1985-86
• 47: 2014-15
• 47: 2016-17
Fewest Goals Allowed Thru 73 Games (Includes SO)
• 175 1975-76
• 175 1976-77
• 178 2018-19
Road Warriors
The Isles are 11-4-2 in their last 17 road games and 14-5-2 in their last 21 road games. The 30 points in the last 21 road games matches a club record (done several times)
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 178
2. Dallas 180
3. Boston 185
Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)
1. ISLES 173
2. Dallas 179
3. Boston 182
Coach Trotz
Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 804-592-60-141 in 1,597 games.
Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman 1,244
2. Joel Quenneville 890
3. Ken Hitchcock 846
4. Barry Trotz 804
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 1,597
5. Ken Hitchcock 1,589
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: 42-24-7 (91 points), with 206 goals scored and 178 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
Last Season: 31-32-10 (72 points), with 235 goals scored and 263 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
The Isles have allowed 85 fewer goals, a decrease of 32.3% 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 27-9-5 when scoring first and are 15-15-2 when allowing the opening goal (which includes a 1-0 shootout loss).
Highest Percentage of Games Won (Post-Cup Era) Allowing First Goal
• .545 (18-13-2) 2014-15
• .469 (15-15-2) 2018-19
• .410 (14-21-4) 1985-86
The Shots
Isles 2-6-5=13
Boston 14-10-13=37
The Isles are 13-14-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-2-0 when the shots are even and 29-8-6 when they are outshot. [The 29 wins when outshot are a franchise record; they won 25 in both 1983-84 and 2017-18.]
The Isles lead the NHL in wins when outshot. Three teams won 30 games last year when outshot, but nobody has won more since 2015-16 when Ottawa won 33.
Home and Road
The Islanders are 42-24-7 overall; 22-12-4 at home (10-6-2 on Long Island and 12-6-2 in Brooklyn) and 20-12-3 on the road. All their remaining regular season home games are at the Nassau Coliseum.
Boston is 44-20-9 overall; 29-7-3 at home and 15-13-6 on the road.
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 16-8-1 in Division games and 26-16-6 in games versus other divisions. The Isles are 26-14-5 against the East and 16-10-2 against the West.
In the Nets
Robin Lehner made 34 saves but falls to 20-12-5 on the season and 4-13-4 in his career against Boston.
Tuukka Rask made 13 saves to improve to 25-10-5 on the season and 15-5-0 against the Islanders.
Power Plays
The Isles were 0-2 on the power play in 4:00 of PP time; Boston was 0-1 on the power play in 2:00 of PP time.
The Isles are 23-2-2 when they score at least one power play goal and 19-22-5 when they do not. The Isles are 14-13-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 28-11-2 when they do not.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 34-2-2 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 8-22-5 when they do not.
One Goal Games
The Isles are 17-5-7 in games decided by a single goal including 7-5 in regulation. They are 6-2 in games decided in overtime and are 4-5 in shootouts. The Isles are 6-6 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.
Tired vs. Rested
• The Isles are 5-0-0 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 5-1-1 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.
• The Isles are 26-23-5 when both teams are rested.
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Ryan Pulock (21:11); Boston: Charlie McAvoy (22:37)
Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 18:50 of ice-time
Isles record by ice-time leader: Ryan Pulock (19-12-5), Nick Leddy (14-9-2), Scott Mayfield (8-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (0-1-0), Adam Pelech (1-0-0), Mathew Barzal (0-1-0).
Face-offs
Isles 26, Boston 32 (45%).
Mathew Barzal won 6 of 8 for the Isles; Noel Acciari won 5 of 6 for Boston.
Face-offs by period: 1st period 8/15; 2nd period 11/25; 3rd period 8/17.
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 26/51, Power play 1/3, Penalty kill 0/3.
Hit Count
Isles 23 (Matt Martin -4)
Boston 20 (Steven Kampfer-3)
Fights
Matt Martin fought Zdeno Chara in the second period. It was the second time the two had fought and the fist time Chara had ever fought against the Islanders.
Season total –15 (Scott Mayfield -4, Ross Johnston-3, Matt Martin -3, Anders Lee- 2, Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk, Jordan Eberle).
Blocked Shots
The Isles blocked 20 shots (Three with 3)
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 31, Boston 68 (including 26-8 in Boston's favor in the 1st period)
5-on-5 Isles 28, Boston 61
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Anders Lee -1 (Valtteri Filppula was EVEN in 2:57 of play)
Boston: David Pastrnak +19
Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 7-4-1 in the front half and 10-1-1 in the back half. The final back-to-back of the season is on March 23-24 in Philadelphia and vs. Arizona.
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, but are 1-1-1 in the last three back-ends.
Night and Day
The Isles are 36-20-7 in night games and 6-4-0 in matinees. The final two matinees are next weekend (March 23rd in Philly and March 24th vs. Arizona (at the Coliseum).
Ironmen
Anders Lee 191, Brock Nelson 168, Mathew Barzal 155. Four other Isles: Nick Leddy, Ryan Pulock, Josh Bailey and Leo Komarov have appeared in every game this season.
Scratches
Johnny Boychuk , Tom Kuhnhackl, Michael Dal Colle, Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg, Ross Johnston
Total games lost: 134
Comeback Kings
The Isles are 6-6-1 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 15-1-1 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.
2/28 vs TOR Maple Leafs – Maple Leaf goal overturned after successful Isles 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 788
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
14. Patrick Flatley 160 *** 15. Anders Lee 151 …
17. Mariusz Czerkawski 145 *** 18. Kyle Okposo 139 ***19. Josh Bailey 138…
20. Jason Blake 127 *** 21. Duane Sutter and Brock Nelson 121
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553…
9. Stefan Persson 317 *** 10. Bob Bourne 304 *** 11. Josh Bailey 289 …
26. Ziggy Palffy 163 *** 27. David Volek 154 *** 28. Mariusz Czerkawski and Nick Leddy 150
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052…
12. Patrick Flatley 488 *** 13. Billy Harris 443 *** 14. Josh Bailey 427…
24.. Ed Westfall 286 *** 25. Steve Thomas and Jason Blake 258 *** 27. Anders Lee 254
Games Played (Goalies)
1. Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282 …
6. Jaroslav Halak 177 *** 7. Glenn Healy 176 *** 8. Thomas Greiss 159
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 84
Shutouts (Goalie)
1. Glenn Resch 25 ***2. Billy Smith 22 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 16 *** 4. Tommy Salo 14***
5. Jaroslav Halak 12 *** 6. Thomas Greiss 10
Season Series Stats
Boston wins the season series 3 games to 0 (and 6 points to 1). The Bruins outscored the Isles 10-2 in the three games.
The Isles are 0-6-1 in the last seven games against the Bruins and have scored a total of seven goals in the seven games. The last Islander win was a 4-0 shutout in Beantown on January 16, 2017 in Jack Capuano's final game behind the Isles' bench.
The isles haven't beaten Boston at home since 2013, going 0-8-0. They are 1-11-0 in the last 12 home games and 3-16-0 in the last 19 home games, dating back to late 2007.
On the Farm
Bridgeport has won nine of their last 11 games, is 13-3-1-0 in their last 17 games (including three OT wins and three shootout wins) and 37-20-5-2 on the season.
Bridgeport continues their eight-game homestand on Wednesday against Toronto.
Leaders: Goals: Steve Bernier 21; Assists: Chris Bourque 33; Points: Chris Bourque 46; +/-: Otto Koivula +15. Goalies: Jeremy Smith 19-10-3 (2.82 GAA); Christopher Gibson 18-10-4 (2.97 GAA)
Up Next
THURSDAY, MARCH 21st –ISLANDERS AT MONTREAL 7:30PM
[MSG+ (Pre-game at 6:30pm), 88.7 WRHU-FM,WRCN 103.9FM, Radio.com]
The Isles begin a two-game road trip with their only visit of the season to Montreal. It's the third meeting in three buildings as the Habs won a shootout in Brooklyn in November before the Isles got a late Anders Lee goal to beat Montreal this past Thursday at the Coliseum.
The Isles are 4-2-1 in the last seven games against Montreal.
Since the Canadiens have the best record of any team not currently in a playoff spot, this game has big magic number implications. The Isles' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 11, but it would fall to 7 with an Islander win in regulation.
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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