"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Eastern Conference First Round Game 1
Isles 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT)
This time, Josh Bailey didn't give Pittsburgh a chance to answer. Bailey scored at 4:39 of overtime to give the Isles a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before a sellout crowd of 13,917 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Three times the Isles took leads in regulation, only to have Pittsburgh even the score. Finally, Bailey's first Stanley Cup overtime goal gave the Isles a 1-0 lead in the series.
Four Islanders played in their first Stanley Cup playoff game: Adam Pelech, Devon Toews and Mathew Barzal all earned assists while Anthony Beauvillier's screen helped set up Nick Leddy's goal.
Game 2 will be at the Coliseum on Friday.
The Scoring:
1st Period
Jordan Eberle (1) Anders Lee, Adam Pelech 01:40 PIT 0,NYI 1
Phil Kessel (1) Dominik Simon, Brian Dumoulin 05:42 PIT 1,NYI 1
Brock Nelson (1) Jordan Eberle, Devon Toews 15:46 PIT 1,NYI 2 PPG
2nd Period
Evgeni Malkin (1) Justin Schultz, Phil Kessel 13:41 PIT 2,NYI 2 PPG
3rd Period
Nick Leddy (1) Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov 12:35 PIT 2,NYI 3
Justin Schultz (1) Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin 18:31 PIT 3,NYI 3
OT
Josh Bailey (1) Mathew Barzal 04:39 PIT 3,NYI 4
The Series (Isles lead 1-0)
Game 1: Isles 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT)
Game 2: Friday on Long Island
Game 3: Sunday in Pittsburgh
Game 4: Tuesday in Pittsburgh
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
Josh Bailey recorded his first career overtime goal; he is the first player to score a playoff overtime goal on Coliseum ice since John Tavares (4/19/2015 vs. Washington)…After not scoring in 13 playoff games for Edmonton, Jordan Eberle scored his first career playoff goal just 100 seconds into play…Tom Kuhnhackl had goals disallowed after video review in both the first period and the overtime…The Isles power play went 0-14 in 2015 against Barry Trotz, but scored 25 seconds into their first power play tonight…Evgeni Malkin now has 12 points in seven career playoff games against the Isles…The Isles got points from ten different players; every Isles played at least 11 minutes…Valtteri Filppula appeared in his 27th career playoff game against Pittsburgh (most of any active player). Only Dominic Moore (31 games) has played more playoff games against the Pens. Filppula, who recorded an assist, is 25-58-83 in 159 playoff games. He has played 61 more playoff games than Johnny Boychuk, who is 2nd in career games among current Isles….20 of the Isles 50 all-time playoff game have ended within the first five minutes; all six overtime games between these teams have been decided in the first nine minutes of overtime…The Isles have won four straight games 1's; when the Isles win game 1 of a best-of-seven series, they have gone on to win the series 22 out of 41 times.
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 1 game 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 19 playoff games the Isles have played since 2014 have gone to overtime with the Isles holding a 5-3 record. The Isles have gone to overtime in five of their last six home playoff games.
This was the fourth time game 1 of a series has been decided in overtime and the Isles are now 4-0 (1980 QF, 1980 Final, 1982 Final).
Pittsburgh is 30-31 in overtime, including 12-12 on the road.
This was the sixth overtime 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.
Lead/Tie/Trail
In game 1, the Isles led for 27:43 and the game was tied for 36:56. There has not been a multi-goal lead in the series.
Playoffs All-time
The Isles improve to 145-120 in 265 all-time playoff games. They are 83-44 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 1-0 when all three play in the playoffs.
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 1-0 in playoff games at the Coliseum (1 sellout).
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 114 playoff games (56-58). He is 19th all-time in games and will pass Claude Julien (115), Billy Reay (117) and Jacques Lemaire (117) this month. His 56 wins breaks a tie with Jacques Demers for 20th on the all-time list. 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 1
• 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 1
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 in the playoffs.
The Shots
Isles 12-10-9-2=33
Pittsburgh 17-13-11-3=44
Shots by Game
• Game 1: Isles 33, Pittsburgh 44
The Isles are 0-0 when they outshoot their opponents, 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 41 saves to improve to 1-0 in the playoffs and in his career against Pittsburgh.
Matt Murray made 29 saves but falls to 0-1 in the playoffs and in his career against the Isles.
Power Plays
The Isles were 1-2 on the power play in 2:25 of PP time; Pittsburgh was 1-3 on the power play in 5:11 of PP time.
Power Plays by Game
• Game 1: Isles 1-2 (2:25), Pittsburgh 1-3 (5:11)
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 1-0 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: Adam Pelech (23:05); Pittsburgh: Kris Letang (28:38)
Brock Nelson led Isles forwards with 20:13 of ice-time
Isles record by ice-time leader: Adam Pelech (1-0).
Face-offs
Isles 35, Pittsburgh 29 (55%).
Valeri Filppula won 9 of 12 for the Isles (Filppula had won 11 of 13 for Tampa Bay in the Isles' last game of the 2016 playoffs); Evgeni Malkin won 9 of 14 for Pittsburgh.
Face-offs by period: 1st period 11/19; 2nd period 11/22; 3rd period 11/19; overtime 2/4.
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 28/54, Power play 2/4, Penalty kill 5/6.
Hit Count
Isles 42 (Matt Martin -7, Cal Clutterbuck-6)
Pittsburgh 43 (Nick Bjugstad -8)
Hits Game by Game:
• Game 1: Isles 42, Pittsburgh 43
Fights
There were no fights. Playoff total -0. The Isles were involved in 16 fights in the regular season.
Blocked Shots
The Isles blocked 17 shots (Scott Mayfield -4).
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 62, Pittsburgh 83
5-on-5 Isles 49, Pittsburgh 70
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
Scratches
(Andrew Ladd -INJ), (Tanner Fritz- INJ),Thomas Hickey, Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg, Ross Johnston, Michael Dal Colle
Playoff game lost: 2. 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 – Nick 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 closed out their home series with a 2-1 win over Laval on Wednesday. Kieffer Bellows and Stephen Gionta scored for Bridgeport, who will close out the regular season with games in Springfield on Friday and Wilkes Barre-Scranton on Saturday.
The Sound Tigers went 12-1-1-1 in their final 15 games at home.
Overall, Bridgeport is 14-5-1-1 in their last 21 games, 18-6-2-1 in their last 27 games and 42-23-6-3 on the season.
Leaders: Goals: Steve Bernier 23; Assists: Chris Bourque 39; Points: Chris Bourque 54; +/-: Kyle Burroughs +14. Goalies: Jeremy Smith 21-12-4 (2.81 GAA); Christopher Gibson 21-11-5 (2.86 GAA)
Up Next
ISLANDERS VS PENGUINS
GAME 2: FRIDAY, APRIL 12th – AT ISLES 7:30PM
[MSG Networks (Coverage begins at 6:30PM), NBCSN, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 FM WRCN and Radio.Com]
The Isles will look to take a 2-0 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 won the opening game of seven series in the interim, yet lost game two all seven times.
The last time the Isles won the first two games of a series at home was in the 1983 Divisional Final against the Rangers.
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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