"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 56
Nashville 5, Isles 0
Craig Smith scored the winning goal just 35 seconds into play and later added two other goals for his first career hat trick as the Nashville Predators blanked the Isles 5-0 before a sellout crowd of 17,561 at Bridgestone Arena.
Juuse Saros made 31 saves for his 9th career shutout, including eight on Anders Lee.
The Isles fall to 33-17-6; their 72 points matches last year's Islander team for the 2nd-highest total of points thru 56 games in the Post-Cup era (75 in 2014-15).
The Scoring:
1st Period
Craig Smith (14) 00:35 NYI 0,NSH 1
Craig Smith (15) Rocco Grimaldi (18) 07:41 NYI 0,NSH 2
Mattias Ekholm (7) Calle Jarnkrok (17), Austin Watson (8) 13:33 NYI 0,NSH 3
2nd Period
Rocco Grimaldi (10) 04:41 NYI 0,NSH 4
Craig Smith (16) Roman Josi (42) 11:38 NYI 0,NSH 5
3rd Period
No Goals
The Skinny
The Isles are 5-2-2 in their last nine games… Mathew Barzal played in his 220th consecutive game, tying Bryan McCabe for 10th on the all-time club list…Barry Trotz remains one win behind Terry Simpson for 3rd place on the all-time Isles win list… Craig Smith is the first player in Predators history to score five goals in a season against the Isles; he has 13 goals in his last 24 games overall…This was only the fourth time under Trotz that the Isles allowed three goals in the first period (including both games in Nashville)…The Preds scored 13 goals vs. the Isles this season – it's the most goals the Isles have ever allowed in a two-game season series…It's the third time this season that the Isles have been shut out….The Isles are 5-10-0 all-time in Nashville and have been shutout four times by four different goalies (Tomas Vokoun, Pekka Rinne, Anders Lindback, Juuse Soros)…Auston Watson played in his 300th NHL game…Juuse Saros is 5-2-0 in his last seven decisions, including two shutouts….Calle Jamkrok earned his 100th career assist…The last opponent to record two wins by at least five goals over the Isles in the same season was the 2009-10 New Jersey Devils.…The Isles were not shorthanded for the fourth time this season…Cole Bardreau played 12:46 in his first NHL game since November.
Straight B's in Hockey
An Islander with a surname starting with "B" has earned a point on 20 of the Isles' 23 goals this month.
Last Season vs. This Season
The Isles are 33-17-6 thru 56 games this season; they were an identical 33-17-6 thru 56 games last season. Their 72 points in 55 games is tied for the 2nd-highest in the Post-Cup era (75 points in 2014-15, 72 points last season).
It's Good to be Home(s)
The Isles will play 28 of their 41 home games this season at the Coliseum. The Isles are 11-7-1 on Coliseum ice, but only 2-5-1 in their last 8 games in Uniondale. The Isles are 7-0-3 at Barclays Center this season and have not lost in Brooklyn (regular season) since January 12, 2019 (12-0-3); their next Brooklyn game is on March 3rd vs. Montreal.
Road Warriors
The Isles are 15-10-2 on the road this season, including 8-5-1 in the last 14 games.
The Road Ahead
The Isles are beginning a stretch in which they will play six out of seven games (and 17 of their next 27 games) on the road. The Isles are 2-2-0 in this stretch:
• 2/8 - @ Lightning L 1-3
• 2/10 - @ Capitals W 5-3
• 2/11 – Vs. Flyers W 5-3
• 2/13 - @ Predators L 0-5
• 2/15 - @ Golden Knights
• 2/17- @ Coyotes
• 2/19 - @ Avalanche
Coach Trotz
Barry Trotz is second among active coaches, trailing only Joel Quenneville, in both wins and games. Trotz' NHL record is 843-612-60-147 in 1,662 games, and he is now seven wins shy of supplanting Ken Hitchcock as the 3rd-winningest coach in NHL history.
Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman 1,244
2. Joel Quenneville 920
3. Ken Hitchcock 849
4. Barry Trotz 843
5. Al Arbour 782
Most Games Coached
1. Scotty Bowman 2,141
2. Joel Quenneville 1,693
3. Barry Trotz 1,662
4. Al Arbour 1,607
First Things First
The Isles are 21-7-3 when scoring first and are 12-10-3 when allowing the opening goal.
Highest Percentage of Games Won (Post-Cup Era) Allowing First Goal
• .545 (18-13-2) 2014-15
• .480 (12-10-3) 2019-20
• .459 (17-18-2) 2018-19
• .410 (14-21-4) 1985-86
The Shots
Isles 14-13-4=31
Nashville 10-11-5=26
The Isles are 12-7-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-0 when the shots are even and 21-9-2 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 52-20-8 when outshot; the 52 wins are the most in the NHL.
Home and Road
The Islanders are 33-17-6 overall: 187-7-4 at home (11-7-1 on Long Island and 7-0-3 in Brooklyn) and 15-10-2 on the road.
Nashville is 27-22-7 overall: 12-11-4 at home and 15-11-3 on the road.
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 11-7-2 in Division games and 22-10-4 in games versus other divisions. The Isles are 24-10-3 against the East and 9-7-3 against the West.
In the Nets
Thomas Greiss made five saves before being replaced after Nashville's third goal. Greiss falls to 16-8-2 on the season and 3-7-0 in his career against Nashville. Semyon Varlamov made 16 saves in relief.
Juuse Saros made 31 saves to improve to 10-9-4 on the season and 4-1-0 against the Isles. It was his second shutout of the season.
Power Plays
The Isles were 0-2 in 4:00 of power play time; Nashville did not have a power play.
The Isles are 12-5-1 when they score at least one power play goal and 21-12-5 when they do not. The Isles are 13-9-1 when they allow at least one power play goal and 20-9-4 when they do not.
The Isles are 5-5-3 when they have more power plays than the opposition, 4-6-0 when the power plays are even, and 24-6-3 when the opposition has more power plays.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 29-2-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 4-15-3 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 65-4-5 when scoring three or more, with two of the four regulation losses coming against Nashville.
One-Goal Games
The Isles are 16-4-6 in games decided by a single goal including 5-4 in regulation. They are 8-4 in games decided in overtime and are 3-2 in shootouts. The Isles are 5-3 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.
Greatest Percentage of 1-goal games won
• 1981-82 -- .800
• 1982-83 & 1976-77 -- .667
• 1991-92 -- .619
• 2019-20 -- .615
• 2014-15 -- .605
• 2018-19 -- .594
Tired vs. Rested
• The Isles are 3-0-0 when both teams played the night before.
• The Isles are 6-1-0 when they are rested, and their opponents are not.
• The Isles are 3-1-1 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.
• The Isles are 21-15-5 when both teams are rested.
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Devon Toews (23:15); Nashville: Roman Josi (22:50)
Mathew Barzal led Isles forwards with 21:00 of ice-time.
Isles record by ice-time leader: Adam Pelech (9-2-0), Ryan Pulock (12-5-3), Devon Toews (3-6-1), Scott Mayfield (2-1-0), Nick Leddy (5-3-2), Brock Nelson (1-0-0), Mathew Barzal (1-0-0).
Face-offs
Isles 20, Nashville 29 (41%)
Brock Nelson won 8 of 16 for the Isles; Matt Duchene won 9 of 12 for Nashville.
Hit Count
Isles 17 (Johnny Boychuk -3)
Nashville 7 (Jarred Tinordi -2)
Fights
Matt Martin fought Auston Watson in the first period. Season total:12 – Johnston-5 (vs. FLA, vs PHL, vs TB, vs NYR, vs WAS), Cizikas-3 (vs. OTT, vs SJ, vs. LA), Martin-2 (vs NYR, vs NAS), Mayfield (vs ANA), Lee (vs FLA).
Blocked Shots
Isles 21 (Scott Mayfield -6)
Nashville 19 (Two with 3)
For the Analytics Crowd
Corsi: All situations: Isles 59, Nashville 68
Corsi: 5-on-5 Isles 55, Nashville 67
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Jordan Eberle +4
Nashville: Dan Hamhuis +13
High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)
All situations: Isles 10, Nashville 15
5-on-5: Isles 10, Nashville 14
Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 5-3-0 in the front-half and 6-1-1 in the back-half. The next back-to-back will be March 12th in Calgary and March 13th in Edmonton. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 17-2-2 in back-ends.
Night and Day
The Isles are 29-16-4 in night games and 4-1-2 in matinees. The next matinee will be February 17th in Arizona.
200 Game Club
The Isles have three players who have active consecutive game streaks of at least 200 games, and they are three of just 25 players in the NHL who have played every game since the start of the 2017-18 season. It's the first time since November 25, 1978 that the Isles have had three players with streaks of at least 200 games.
Ironman Streaks: Anders Lee 256, Brock Nelson 233, Mathew Barzal 220, Ryan Pulock 183, Josh Bailey 141, Anthony Beauvillier 131, and Devon Toews 104.
Iron Man
Anders Lee now has the fifth longest consecutive game streak while Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal have also moved into the top 10:
1. Billy Harris 10/7/1972 -11/30/1979 576 (*)
2. Bobby Nystrom 1/7/1975 - 11/25/1978 301
3. Matt Moulson 10/3/2009 - 4/4/2013 284
4. Denis Potvin 11/29/1975 - 1/17/1979 262
5. Anders Lee 1/26/2017 – CURRENT 255
6. John Tavares 10/16/2010 - 12/23/2013 246
7. J.P. Parise 1/7/1975 – 1/7/1978 240 (**)
8. Brock Nelson 3/16/2017 – CURRENT 232
9. Richard Park 10/5/2006 - 2/18/2009 221
10. Bryan McCabe 10/7/1995 - 2/4/1998 220 (*) (**)
Mathew Barzal 10/6/17- CURRENT 220
(*) Start of NHL career.
(**) Entire career with Islanders
Iron D
Ryan Pulock has the fourth-longest consecutive game streak of any defenseman in Islander history:
1. Denis Potvin 11/29/1975-1/17/1979 262
2. Bryan McCabe 10/7/1995-2/4/1998 220 (*) (**)
3. Gerry Hart 3/1/1975-11/22/1977 198
4. Ryan Pulock 12/29/2017 – CURRENT 183
(*) Start of NHL career.
(**) Entire career with Islanders
Scratches
(Adam Pelech-INJ), (Cal Clutterbuck-INJ), (Casey Cizikas-INJ), Ross Johnston, Sebastian Aho, Tom Kuhnhackl
Total games lost: 121.
Late Heroes
The Isles have scored four times in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or take the lead:
10/14 vs. STL – Mathew Barzal scored at 19:33 and the Isles won in OT.
11/19 @ PIT – Ryan Pulock scored at 18:38 and the Isles won in OT.
2/1 vs VAN – Brock Nelson scored at 19:34, but the Isles lost in OT.
2/11 vs PIT – Ryan Pulock scored the winning goal at 19:19.
Late Goals Allowed
The Isles have allowed four goals in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game:
11/21 vs. PIT – Patric Hornqvist scored at 19:30, but the Isles won in OT.
12/14 vs. BUF -Jack Eichel scored at 18:14, but the Isles won in OT.
1/16 vs. NYR- Chris Kreider scored the winning goal at 19:35.
2/11 vs. PHI – Sean Couturier scored at 18:28, but the Isles won in regulation.
Challenges
Isles: 4 successful, 1 failure (offside-11/19 vs. PIT), (offside-12/9 vs. TBL), (no goalie Interference 12/21 vs, ANA), (offside-1/6 vs. COL), (offside 1/21 vs NYR)
The Isles are 4-0-0 in games that they are successful and 0-0-1 in games that they are unsuccessful.
Opponents: 4 successful, 3 failures (Nelson-kick 10/8 vs. EDM), (Lee- no high stick 11/1 vs. TB), (Cizikas- no goalie interference 11/23 vs. SJ), (Komarov-goalie interference 1/2 vs. NJ),(no offside 1/18 vs WSH), (Lee-goalie interference 2/4 vs. DAL), (offside- 2/9 vs TBL)
The Isles are 1-1-1 in games where opponents' challenges go their way and 1-3-0 in games that go the opponent's way.
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. Josh Bailey 853…
18. Ken Morrow 550 *** 19. Matt Martin 549 *** 20. Duane Sutter 547 *** 21. Lorne Henning 543 *** 22. Brock Nelson 536 *** 23. Claude Lapointe 535 *** 24. Casey Cizikas 534
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
12. Billy Harris 184 *** 13. Anders Lee 169 *** 14. Ziggy Palffy 168 *** 15. Patrick Flatley 160 *** 16. Josh Bailey 152 *** 17. Pierre Turgeon 147 ***18. Mariusz Czerkawski and Brock Nelson 145
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553…
7. Pat Flatley 328 *** 8. Brent Sutter 323 *** 9. Josh Bailey 318 …
21. Kenny Jonsson 175 *** 22. Duane Sutter and Alexei Yashin 171*** 24. Nick Leddy 168
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1052…
12. Patrick Flatley 488 *** 13. Josh Bailey 470…
21. Mariusz Czerkawski 295 *** 22. Duane Sutter 292 *** 23. Anders Lee 291 *** 24. Alexei Yashin 290 *** 25. Ed Westfall and Brock Nelson 286
Games Played (Goalies)
1. Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282 *** 4. Kelly Hrudey 241 ***
5. Thomas Greiss 190
Wins (Goalie)
1. Billy Smith 304 *** 2. Glenn Resch 157 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 130*** 4. Kelly Hrudey 108***
5. Thomas Greiss 101
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
Games Coached
1. Al Arbour 1,500 *** 2. Jack Capuano 483 *** 3. Mike Milbury 192 …
6. Peter Laviolette 164 *** 7. Ted Nolan 163 *** 8. Butch Goring 154 *** 9. Barry Trotz 138
Coaching Wins
1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Terry Simpson 81 *** 4. Barry Trotz 80
Season Series Stats
Nashville wins the season series 2 games to 0 (and 4 points to 0). The Preds outscored the Isles 13-3 this season.
The Isles are 0-4 under Trotz against Nashville and have been outscored 22-8 in the four games.
On the Farm
The Sound Tigers head to Lehigh Valley on Friday and then return home to face Wilkes Barre-Scranton on Saturday.
Up Next
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15th - ISLANDERS AT NASHVILLE –10:30 PM
[MSG+ (pre-game at 10:00), 88.7 WRHU-FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN-1050]
The Isles will look to get even on the road trip on Saturday in Vegas, as they try to sweep the season series from the Golden Knights.
The Isles earned a 3-2 overtime win against Vegas back on December 5th; Ryan Pulock's overtime tally was the difference.
The Isles swept the season series from Vegas in 2017-18 and the Golden Knights returned the favor in 2018-19.
Barry Trotz will be looking for his 81st win behind the Isles bench, which would tie Terry Simpson for 3rd place on the all-time club list.
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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