The Skinny: Philadelphia 4, Isles 1

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Game 65

Philadelphia 4, Isles 1

Claude Giroux has a pair of assists and four different Flyers scored goals as Philadelphia raced out to a 4-0 lead and defeated the Islanders 4-1 before a sellout crowd of 13,917 at the Nassau Coliseum.

Adam Pelech had the only goal for the Islanders, scoring with 4:45 to play. The goal ended a 112:32 scoreless streak for the Isles and stopped a streak of seven straight goals allowed. 

The Isles fell two points behind Washington for the Metro Division lead; the Isles still hold a game in hand on the Stanley Cup Champs. It is the first time since play concluded on January 18th that the Isles do not hold at least a share of the Division lead.  Columbus lost Sunday night, so the Isles still hold a six-point lead over the Jackets, who are currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference.

 

The Scoring:  

1st Period

Travis Konecny (21) Radko Gudas, Robert Hagg 08:21 PHI 1,NYI 0

Travis Sanheim (9) Claude Giroux 14:59 PHI 2,NYI 0

2nd Period

Scott Laughton (9) Michael Raffl 03:18 PHI 3,NYI 0

Sean Couturier (27) Oskar Lindblom, Claude Giroux 15:14 PHI 4,NYI 0

3rd Period

Adam Pelech (4) Andrew Ladd, Josh Bailey 15:15 PHI 4,NYI 1

The Skinny      

The Isles are 23-9-3 in their last 35 games but are only 2-4-1 in their last seven games …The Isles have surpassed last season's win and point total; including shootout winners they have scored 24 fewer goals and allowed 77 fewer goals than last year's first 65 games… The Isles have 42 points at home and 39 points on the road … The Isles have lost consecutive games in regulation for the first time since December 4 (Winnipeg) – 6 (Pittsburgh)… Andrew Ladd has an assist in all three games he has played since returning from injury.  He now has 10 points in just 17 games this season (3-7-10)…Claude Giroux's two assists give him 51 on the season; it's his fifth season with 50+ assists for the Flyers.  Bobby Clarke (9x) is the only other player in Flyers history to do so…Ivan Provorov went +4 for Philadelphia, becoming the first opponent in a year and a day to do so against the Isles.

The Injuries

Philadelphia's Nolan Patrick left the game in the first period after being hit in the head with a Cal Clutterbuck stick.  Clutterbuck would later leave the game with an upper body injury.  Casey Cizikas also left the game on a couple of occasions, apparently due to illness.

Welcome Back Scott

Former Islander coach Scott Gordon was behind the Flyers bench.  It was his first game as a head coach against the Islanders.  Gordon served as the Isles' head coach from 2008-2010.

Moving On Up

Josh Bailey's assist was his 288th for the Isles, tying Derek King for 11th place on the all-time Isles list.  He is 16 assists behind Bob Bourne for 10th place.  Bailey is the only current Islander to have played for Scott Gordon.

Take a Third Off

Through 65 games, the Isles have allowed 157 goals (including shootouts).  That is 77 goals fewer than they allowed through 64 games last season, meaning they have allowed nearly 1/3rd fewer goals this season than last season.

Strength in the Nets

Robin Lehner is 16-5-2 in his last 23 decisions. His NHL-leading GAA is 2.13 and his save percentage is .929.

Thomas Greiss is 5-2-1 in the last nine appearances, allowing a total of ten goals on 261 shots (5-2-1, 1.15 GAA, .962 save percentage). On the season, his GAA is 2.24 and his save percentage is .928. 

Lehner has won 20 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 2.13

3. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 2.24

Best Save Percentage by an Islander in a Season 

1. Robin Lehner 2018-19 .929 

2. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 .928 (.9276)

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

4. Thomas Greiss 2015-16 .925

For the + Column

Casey Cizikas was EVEN today and is now +25 on the season.  In the last 30 seasons, only three 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

        Casey Cizikas 2018-19 +25

5. Ryan Strome 2014-15 +23

        Trent Hunter 2003-04 +23

It's Good to be Home

The Isles are 7-4-2 on Coliseum ice; they are averaging 98.2% of capacity on Long Island (including nine sellouts).  

 

Most Points Thru 65 Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 85: 2014-15

• 82: 2015-16

• 81: 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 33 Home Games (Post-Cup Era)

• 46: 2014-15

• 46: 1984-85

• 46: 2015-16

• 45: 2003-04

• 44: 1987-88

• 44: 2016-17

• 42: 2018-19

• 42: 1985-86

Fewest Goals Allowed Thru 65 Games (Includes SO)

• 154 1975-76

• 157 2018-19

• 158 1976-77  

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 157

2. Boston 161

3. Dallas 170

Fewest Goals Allowed This Season (excluding SO goals)

1. ISLES 152

2. Boston 158 

3. Dallas 170

Coach Trotz

Among active coaches, Barry Trotz has coached the most games and is 2nd to Ken Hitchcock in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 799-589-60-141 in 1,589 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  890

3. Ken Hitchcock    842 

4. Barry Trotz   799

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   1,589

5. Ken Hitchcock   1,581

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: 37-21-7 (81 points), with 187 goals scored and 157 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

Last Season: 29-29-7 (65 points), with 211 goals scored and 234 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

The Isles have allowed 77 fewer goals, a decrease of 32.9% 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 22-8-5 when scoring first and are 15-13-2 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

• .500 (15-13-2) 2018-19

• .410 (14-21-4) 1985-86

The Shots

Isles      11-13-6=30

Philadelphia 10-11-5=26

The Isles are 11-12-1 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-2-0 when the shots are even and 26-7-6 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 37-21-7 overall; 19-10-4 at home (7-4-2 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.

Philadelphia is 32-26-8 overall; 17-12-4 at home and 15-14-4 on the road.  

By Division & Conference

The Isles are 15-6-1 in Division games and 22-15-5 in games versus other divisions.  The Isles are 22-10-5 against the East and 15-11-1 against the West.  

In the Nets

Robin Lehner made 10 saves before replaced after Philadelphia's third goal. Lehner is 20-11-5 on the season and 3-6-0 in his career against Philadelphia. Thomas Greiss made 12 saves in relief.

Brian Elliott made 29 saves and improves to 9-7-1 on the season and 7-1-6 against the Islanders. 

Power Plays

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

The Isles are 22-2-2 when they score at least one power play goal and 15-19-5 when they do not.  The Isles are 13-13-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 24-8-2 when they do not.

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 31-2-2 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 6-19-5 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 4-6 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.

Tired vs. Rested 

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

• The Isles are 22-20-5 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Ryan Pulock (22:52); Philadelphia: Ivan Provorov (23:46)

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

Isles record by ice-time leader: Ryan Pulock (18-10-5), Nick Leddy (13-9-2), Scott Mayfield (6-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (0-1-0).

Face-offs

Isles 29, Philadelphia 35 (45%).  

Casey Cizikas won 11 of 17 for the Isles; Scott Laughton won 9 of 12 for Philadelphia.

Face-offs by period: 1st period 10/20; 2nd period 13/24; 3rd period 6/20.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 27/57, Power play 1/4, Penalty kill 1/3.

Hit Count

Isles 29 (Johnny Boychuk and Brock Nelson -4)  

Philadelphia 21 (Radko Gudas -5)

   

Fights

Jordan Eberle fought Travis Konecny in the third period; it was his 2nd NHL fight (both against the Flyers). Season total –14 (Scott Mayfield -4, Ross Johnston-3, Matt Martin -2, Anders Lee- 2, Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk, Jordan Eberle).  

 

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 12 shots (Three players with 2) 

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 62, Philadelphia 45

5-on-5 Isles 57, Philadelphia 41

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Mathew Barzal and Scott Mayfield +9

Philadelphia: Claude Giroux +6

Back-to-Backs

The Isles are 7-3-1 in the front half and 9-1-1 in the back half. The next back-to-back is March 16-17 in Detroit and Minnesota and the final back-to-back of the season is the following week (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 0-1-1 in the last two back-ends. 

Night and Day

The Isles are 31-18-7 in night games and 6-3-0 in matinees. The next matinee is on March 16th in Detroit, with the final two matinees being played the following weekend (March 23-24) in Philadelphia and vs. Arizona. 

Ironmen

Anders Lee 183, Brock Nelson 160, Mathew Barzal 147.  Four other Isles: Nick Leddy, Ryan Pulock, Josh Bailey and Leo Komarov have appeared in every game this season.

Scratches

(Matt Martin – INJ), Tom Kuhnhackl, Thomas Hickey, Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg

Total games lost: 124

Comeback Kings

The Isles are 6-5-1 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.

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 780

Goals

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

15. Pierre Turgeon 147 ***16. Anders Lee 146 *** 17. Mariusz Czerkawski 145 *** 18. Kyle Okposo 139 ***19. Josh Bailey 138…

21. Duane Sutter 121 *** 22. Frans Nielsen, Alexei Yashin & Brock Nelson 119

Assists

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

9. Stefan Persson 317 *** 10. Bob Bourne 304 *** 11. Derek King and Josh Bailey 288 …

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 426…

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

Games Played (Goalies)

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

7. Glenn Healy 176 *** 8. Thomas Greiss 152

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 season series is tied one game to one (and 2 points to 2).  The teams will meet again at the Coliseum on March 9th before ending their season series on March 23rd in Philadelphia. 

The road team has won both games this season between the teams; overall the Isles are 4-2-0 in their last six games against Philadelphia.

On the Farm  

The red-hot Sound Tigers are 11-1-1-0 in their last 13 games (including three OT wins and two shootout wins) and have improved to 35-18-5-2 on the season. Bridgeport swept a pair of games in Pennsylvania this weekend, winning 4-1 in Hershey on Saturday and 3-1 in Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Christopher Gibson made 37 saves in the win in Hershey while, Matt Lorito had a pair of goals, including an empty netter in the win in Lehigh Valley.

Bridgeport has earned points in 10 straight games (9-0-1-0); they are six points behind Charlotte for the Division lead.  The Sound Tigers have a 15-point cushion in the race for a playoff spot.

Leaders:  Goals: Steve Bernier 20; Assists: Chris Bourque 33; Points: Chris Bourque 46; +/-: Otto Koivula +16.  Goalies: Jeremy Smith 17-9-3 (2.85 GAA); Christopher Gibson 18-9-4 (2.89 GAA)

Up Next

TUESDAY, MARCH 5th – OTTAWA AT ISLANDERS AT NASSAU COLISEUM 7:00PM 

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

The Isles have not lost three straight games in regulation all season; they will look to extend that streak against Ottawa in a home-and-home series that begins on Tuesday at the Coliseum.

It's the final game of a five-game homestand; the Isles are 1-3-0 in the first four games.

The Isles have won four of the last five games from the Sens, including a 6-3 decision in Brooklyn on December 28th.

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