The Skinny: Isles 3, Pittsburgh 1; Isles lead series 2-0.

"The Skinny"

By Eric Hornick

Eastern Conference First Round Game 2

Isles 3, Pittsburgh 1 

Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey scored goals 3:44 apart in the third period as the Isles broke a 1-1 tie and earned a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before a sellout crowd of 13,917 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.   

Bailey's goal came on the Isles' 6th power play of the game (most in a playoff game since 2003). 

It's the first time since the 1983 Stanley Cup Final that the Isles lead a series 2-0; games 3 and 4 are scheduled for Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon and Tuesday evening.

The Scoring: 

1st Period

No Goals

2nd Period

Erik Gudbranson (1) Evgeni Malkin 10:36 PIT 1,NYI 0

Anthony Beauvillier (1) Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle 13:25 PIT 1,NYI 1

3rd Period

Jordan Eberle (2) Mathew Barzal, Johnny Boychuk 07:54 PIT 1,NYI 2

Josh Bailey (2) Anders Lee, Devon Toews 11:38 PIT 1,NYI 3 PPG

The Series (Isles lead 1-0)

Game 1: Isles 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT)

Game 2: Isles 3, Pittsburgh 1

Game 3: Sunday in Pittsburgh (12:00)

Game 4: Tuesday in Pittsburgh (7:30)

Game 5 (if needed): Thursday April 18 on Long Island

Game 6 (if needed): Saturday April 20 in Pittsburgh

Game 7 (if needed): Monday April 22 on Long Island

The Skinny   

Jordan Eberle is 2-2-4 in the series after tallying only two points in 13 playoff games for Edmonton; Eberle has been on the ice for six of the Isles' seven goals in the series… Evgeni Malkin now has 13 points in eight career playoff games against the Isles…Every Isles played at least 10:43…Valtteri Filppula appeared in his 28th career playoff game against Pittsburgh (most of any active player).  Only Dominic Moore (31 games) has played more playoff games against the Pens.  Filppula is 25-58-83 in 160 playoff games. He has played 61 more playoff games than Johnny Boychuk, who is 2nd in career games among current Isles with 99….The Isles had failed on their last six attempts to take a 2-0 lead when the Isles win games 1 and 2 of a best-of-seven series, they have gone on to win the series 11 out of 12 times (losing only to Toronto in 1978)…The Isles won a home game on April 12th for the first time in their history, having 0-1-1 in the regular season and 0-5 in the playoffs in their previous seven games…It's the first since 2013 that the Penguins have lost the first two games of the season…The Isles have scored power play goals in four consecutive home playoff games (dating back to 2016); they scored power play goals in consecutive regular season games only once after the All-Star Break (2/8-2/9).

Vs. Pittsburgh

This is the fifth all-time playoff meeting between the teams:

• 1975- Quarter-Finals.  Isles won series 4 games to 3.

• 1982- Preliminary Series. Isles won series 3 games to 2.

• 1993- Division Final.  Isles won series 4 games to 3.

• 2013- Conference Quarter-Finals.  Pittsburgh won series 4 games to 2.

• 2019- Conference First Round.  Isles lead series 2 games to 0.

An overtime goal has ended the last three series: John Tonelli (1982), David Volek (1993) and Brooks Orpik (2013) scored the series-ending goals.

This is only the second time that the Isles have had home-ice in a series vs. Pittsburgh (1982).

Overtime is Our Time

The Isles are 34-16 (.680) all-time in overtime, including 18-9 (.667) at home.  The .680 overall percentage and .667 home percentages are both the best in NHL history. The Isles are 1-0 in overtime this season; eight of the 20 playoff games the Isles have played since 2014 have gone to overtime with the Isles holding a 5-3 record.  

Pittsburgh is 30-31 in overtime, including 12-12 on the road.

There have been six overtime games between the teams; each team has won three.  John Tonelli (1982) and David Volek (1993) have the other winners for the Isles while Rick Kehoe (1982), Chris Kunitz (2013) and Brooks Orpik (2013) have winners for Pittsburgh. Each of the six games was decided in the first nine minutes of overtime.

Lead/Tie/Trail

In game 1, the Isles led for 27:43 and the game was tied for 36:56.  

In game 2, the Isles led for 12:06, the game was tied for 45:05 and Pittsburgh led for 2:49.  

Totals:   Isles 39:49, Tied 82:01, Pittsburgh 2:49

Other than the final 8:22 of game two, the score has been tied or within one goal for the entire series.

Playoffs All-time

The Isles improve to 146-120 in 266 all-time playoff games.  They are 84-44 at home (including 2-3 at Barclays) and 62-76 on the road.  

What a Season!

The Isles finished 2nd in the Metro Division, 4th in the Eastern Conference and 5th in the NHL. The Isles have not finished that high since the conference was created. They last finished that high in a conference in 87-88, when they were 3rd in the Wales Conference.  It's the first time since 1985-86 that the Isles have finished in the top five overall.

Two Isles Goalies with at least 23 Wins in a Regular Season

• 1978-79: Chico Resch (26) & Billy Smith (25)

• 2018-19: Robin Lehner (25) & Thomas Greiss (23)

Best Goals Against Average by An Islander in a Regular Season

1. Chico Resch 1975-76 2.08

2. Robin Lehner 2018-19 2.13

3. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 2.28

4. Chico Resch 1975-76 2.28

5. Jaroslav Halak 2015-16 2.30

Best Save Percentage by an Islander in a Regular Season 

1. Robin Lehner 2018-19 .930

2. Chico Resch 1975-76 .928

3. Thomas Greiss 2018-19 .927

4. Thomas Greiss 2015-16 .925

The Best (Fourth) Line in Hockey

In the regular season, the Isles were 35-16-6 when Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck all play and are 13-11-1 when one or more miss a game.  They are 2-0 when all three play in the playoffs.

In this series, the trio has combined for 13 shots on goal and 30 hits.

It's Good to be Home

The Isles went 12-7-2 on Coliseum ice; they averaged 97.1% of capacity on Long Island (including 14 sellouts).  They are 2-0 in playoff games at the Coliseum (2 sellouts).

Most Points (Post-Cup Era)

• 103: 2018-19 

• 101: 2014-15

Most Road Points (Post Cup Era)

• 51: 2018-19

• 49: 2014-15

Fewest Goals Allowed (Includes SO)

• 190 1975-76 (no overtime games; 80-game schedule)

• 193 1976-77 (no overtime games; 80-game schedule)

• 196 2018-19 (189 in regulation, two in overtime, and five in shootouts)

The Isles allowed 190 goals in the 80-game 1975-76 season (2.38/game). The Isles have allowed 2.30 goals in regulation and 2.39 goals including OT/SO this season.

Worst to First

The Isles allowed the most goals in the NHL last season and the fewest goals in the NHL this season.  Only once before in NHL history had 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.  

Coach Trotz

In regular season play, Barry Trotz is 2nd among active coaches in games and third in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 810-595-60-141 in 1,606 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  890

3. Ken Hitchcock    849

4. Barry Trotz    810

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   1,606

5. Ken Hitchcock   1,598

Trotz will catch Al Arbour in games coached on Opening Night next season.  

Coach Trotz (Playoffs)

Barry Trotz has now coached 115 playoff games (57-58).  He is tied-18th all-time in games with Claude Julien (115) and will pass Billy Reay (117) and Jacques Lemaire (117) this month.  His 57 wins are tied with Billy Reay for 19th all time.  Trotz won the Stanley Cup last season; Joel Quenneville (3) and Mike Sullivan (2) are the only active coaches with multiple Stanley Cups.

Most playoff wins by Islander coaches:

• Al Arbour 123

• Jack Capuano 10

• Terry Simpson 9

• Peter Laviolette 4

• Barry Trotz 2

• Ted Nolan 1

• Steve Stirling 1

Most playoff games coached (Islanders):

• Al Arbour 209

• Jack Capuano 24

• Terry Simpson 20

• Peter Laviolette 12

• Steve Stirling 5

• Ted Nolan 5

• Barry Trotz 2

Most overtime wins/overtime record:

• Al Arbour 26 (26-9)

• Jack Capuano 4 (4-5)

• Terry Simpson 3 (3-0)

• Barry Trotz 1 (1-0)

• Peter Laviolette 0 (0-1)

• Steve Stirling 0 (0-1)

Most playoff series wins:

• Al Arbour 29

• Jack Capuano 1

• Terry Simpson 1

What a Difference a Year Makes

This Season: 48-27-7 (103 points), with 228 goals scored and 195 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

Last Season: 35-37-10 (80 points), with 264 goals scored and 296 goals allowed (includes SO winners)

The Isles allowed 101 fewer goals, a decrease of 34.1% as compared to last season.

First Things First

The Isles are 1-0 when scoring first and are 1-0 when allowing the first goal in the playoffs in the playoffs.

The Shots

Isles        11-12-11=34

Pittsburgh 7-11-15=33

Shots by Game

• Game 1: Isles 33, Pittsburgh 44

• Game 2: Isles 34, Pittsburgh 33

• Series: Isles 67, Pittsburgh 77

The Isles are 1-0 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-0 when the shots are even and 1-0 when they are outshot. [The Isles won a franchise-record 31 games when outshot this season.]

In the Nets

Robin Lehner made 32 saves to improve to 2-0 in the playoffs and in his career against Pittsburgh.   

Matt Murray made 31 saves but falls to 0-2 in the playoffs and in his career against the Isles. 

Power Plays

The Isles were 1-6 on the power play in 9:59 of PP time; Pittsburgh was 0-2 on the power play in 3:05 of PP time.

Power Plays by Game

• Game 1: Isles 1-2 (2:25; 5 shots), Pittsburgh 1-3 (5:11, 2 shots)

• Game 2: Isles 1-6 (9:59, 8 shots), Pittsburgh 0-2 (3:05, 3 shots)

• Series: Isles 2-8 (12:24, 13 shots), Pittsburgh 1-5 (8:16, 5 shots)

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 2-0 in the playoffs when they score at least three goals.  In the regular season the Isles went 38-2-2 when they scored at least three goals (including shootout winners) and 10-25-5 when they did not.  The 10 wins when being held to two goals or fewer are a franchise record.

One Goal Games

The Isles are 1-0 in the playoffs in one-goal games; they were 19-6-7 in games decided by a single goal in regulation. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Ryan Pulock (22:51); Pittsburgh: Kris Letang (29:01)

Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 20:29 of ice-time 

Isles record by ice-time leader: Adam Pelech (1-0), Ryan Pulock (1-0) 

Face-offs

Isles 33, Pittsburgh 24 (58%).

Casey Cizikas won 9 of 15 for the Isles; Matt Cullen won 8 of 14 for Pittsburgh.

Face-offs by period: 1st period 19/25; 2nd period 4/14; 3rd period 10/18.

Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 25/44, Power play 6/10, Penalty kill 2/3.

Face-offs by Game

• Game 1: Isles 35, Pittsburgh 29 (55%).  

• Game 2: Isles 33, Pittsburgh 24 (58%).

• Series: Isles 68, Pittsburgh 53 (56%)

Hit Count

Isles 41 (Cal Clutterbuck-8)

Pittsburgh 36 (Brian Dumoulin -6)

Hits Game by Game:

• Game 1: Isles 42, Pittsburgh 43

• Game 2: Isles 41, Pittsburgh 36

• Series: Isles 83, Pittsburgh 79

Fights

There were no fights. Playoff total -0.  The Isles were involved in 16 fights in the regular season.

Blocked Shots

The Isles blocked 15 shots (Nick Leddy-3).  

For the Corsi Crowd 

All situations: Isles 59, Pittsburgh 62

5-on-5 Isles 39, Pittsburgh 47

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Ryan Pulock +6 

Pittsburgh: Patric Hornqvist +18

Corsi Game by Game:

• Game 1 (All) Isles 62, Pittsburgh 83;  (5-on-5) Isles 49, Pittsburgh 70

• Game 2 (All) Isles 59, Pittsburgh 62; (5-on-5) Isles 39, Pittsburgh 47

• Series (All) Isles 121, Pittsburgh 145; (5-on-5) Isles 88, Pittsburgh 117

Scratches

(Andrew Ladd -INJ), (Tanner Fritz- INJ),Thomas Hickey, Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg, Ross Johnston, Michael Dal Colle

Playoff games lost: 4.  The Isles lost 153 man-games in the regular season

Post-Season Late Heroes

The Isles have scored once in overtime:

4/10 – PIT Penguins-Josh Bailey scored the winning goal (4:39 of OT) 

Post-Season 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:

4/10 – PIT Penguins – Justin Schultz tied the game (18:31), but the Isles won in overtime. 

Playoff Offside Challenges

4/10 – PIT Penguins – Isles goal overturned after successful Penguin challenge. 

On the Farm  

The playoff-bound Sound Tigers lost 7-2 to Springfield in the penultimate game of the regular season. Bridgeport will close out the regular season in Wilkes Barre-Scranton on Saturday. The Sound Tigers now know that their first-round playoff opponent will be the Hershey Bears. Bridgeport's magic number to clinch home-ice remains 1.

The Sound Tigers went 12-1-1-1 in their final 15 games at home.

Overall, Bridgeport is 14-6-1-1 in their last 22 games, 18-7-2-1 in their last 28 games and 42-24-6-3 on the season.  

Leaders:  Goals: Steve Bernier 23; Assists: Chris Bourque 39; Points: Chris Bourque 54; +/-: Three with +13.  Goalies: Jeremy Smith 21-13-4 (2.92 GAA); Christopher Gibson 21-11-5 (2.86 GAA)

Up Next

ISLANDERS VS PENGUINS

GAME 3: SUNDAY, APRIL 14th – AT PITTSBURGH 12:00PM

[NBC-Channel 4, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 FM WRCN and Radio.Com]

[MSG Network will provide extensive post-game coverage immediately after the game.]

The Isles will look to take a 3-0 lead in a series for the first time since the 1983 Stanley Cup Final when they host the Penguins in game 2.

The Isles have led nine best-of-seven series 3-0 and have won them all.

The Isles are 5-8 all-time in playoff games in Pittsburgh; the Penguins won two out of three between the teams in Pittsburgh in the 2013 playoffs.

Kenny Albert, AJ Mleczko and Pierre Maguire will have the call on NBC, ending a streak of 180 consecutive Islander games (178 regular season and 2 playoffs) called by Brendan Burke.

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