The Skinny: Washington 1, Isles 0

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 49

Washington 1, Isles 0

Daniel Sprong scored on the Capitals' first shot and that turned out to be enough as Washington blanked the Isles 1-0 before a socially-distanced crowd of 2,133 at Capital One Arena 

Vitek Vanacek made 18 saves as the Caps completed a sweep of the three game series, including two 1-0 wins.

The Isles remain in 3rd place in the East Division, four points behind Pittsburgh and five points behind Washington. The Isles and Caps have seven games to play while Pittsburgh has six. Boston is just one point behind the Isles; the Bruins have eight games to play, while the Rangers are only five points behind the Isles (with six games to play).

 

The Scoring:

1st Period

Daniel Sprong (10) Dmitry Orlov (9) 01:29 NYI 0,WSH 1

2nd Period

No Goals

3rd Period

No Goals

The Skinny        

The Isles are 10-9-1 since the end of their 9-game win streak (and 12-game point streak) … The Isles have killed 26 of the last 27 opponent power plays and have scored a shorthanded goal in that span as well… Oliver Wahlstrom and Braydon Coburn replaced Michael Dal Colle and Noah Dobson in the line-up.…Semyon Varlamov did not dress so Cory Schneider served as the backup… The team that scored first has won the last twelve Islander games ….The Isles have only three regulation wins in the last 17 games…The Isles have scored only 15 goals (two in overtime) in their last nine games, and that includes 6 vs. the Rangers on April 20th… The Caps improve to 5-0-1 this season and 19-14-3 all-time when Alex Ovechkin does not play; the Caps have beaten the Isles four times this season without Ovechkin in the lineup… Daniel Sprong, who scored the game-winner for the second straight game, led the Caps with five goals against the Isles this season; it is half of his goal total on the season…The Isles have dropped two of their last three games by a 1-0 score; it is the first time in club history that this has happened.  Prior to this season the Isles had not been blanked 1-0 twice in a season since the 2013-14 season…The Isles have been shut out three times in the last six games; in March 2019 they were actually shutout three times in a five-game span; they swept the Penguins less than a month later…The Isles were outscored 7-3 in the three games (not including the shootout winner); all seven Washington goals were at even strength while all three Isles goals were scored on special teams.

A Bit of History

Daniel Sprong is credited with the earliest goal in a 1-0 Islander game (in either direction).  The earliest goal previously allowed by the Isles was on November 7, 2013 when Radek Dvorak of Carolina scored at 6:39 of the first period.  The earliest Isles goal in a 1-0 game was scored by Casey Cizikas in New Jersey on February 19, 2016.

Magic Number Time

The Islanders' magic number for clinching a playoff spot remains 8 over the Rangers and falls to 3 over Philadelphia. Due to tie-breakers, the Isles would assure themselves of finishing ahead of the Flyers with either an Islander regulation win or a Flyer regulation loss.

New Jersey and Buffalo cannot catch the Isles.

The Playoff Chase  (top 4 make playoffs)

Washington 68 points (7 to play)

Pittsburgh         67 points (6 to play)

ISLES 63 points (7 to play)

Boston 62 points (8 to play)

---------------------------------------------------

Rangers         58 points (6 to play)

Philadelphia 51 points (7 to play)

This Week's Schedule:

• Wednesday – no games

• Thursday – Isles @ NYR, PHI @ NJD, PIT @ WAS, BUF @ BOS 

• Friday – no games

• Saturday- NYR @ Isles, BUF @ BOS, NJD @ PHI, PIT @ WAS

• Sunday- no games

• Monday- Isles @ BUF, WAS @ NYR, BOS @ NJD, PIT @ PHI

• Tuesday- Isles @ BUF, BOS @ NJD, PIT @ PHI

Most Shutouts in a Season

• 11 2018-19 (82-game schedule)

• 10 1975-76 (80-game schedule)

• 8   2020-21 (56-game schedule)

• 8   1997-98 (82-game schedule)

The Isles will earn a shutout in at least 14.3% of their games this season, breaking the previous record (13.4% in 2018-19).

Varly Solid

Semyon Varlamov is 10-5-2 in his last seventeen decisions, allowing just 37 goals in that span.  Varly has won 17 games this season with a goals against average of 212 and save percentage of .926.  Varlamov has 249 NHL wins and 32 shutouts, including five this season (which shares the NHL lead with Grubauer and Fleury).   He is now one win behind Johnny Bower for 61st on the all-time win list.

Sorokin's Shining

Ilya Sorokin is 12-4-0 in his last sixteen starts. He has allowed two goals or fewer in six of his last seven appearances and in twelve of his last sixteen starts.

Most Wins by an Islander Rookie Goalie (one season):

1. Chico Resch 23 (1975-76)

2. Roland Melanson 22 (1981-82)

3. Kelly Hrudey 19 (1984-85)

4. Ilya Sorokin 12 (2020-21)

        Chico Resch 12 (1974-75)

Most Shutouts by an Islander Rookie Goalie (one season):

1. Chico Resch 7 (1975-76)

2. Ilya Sorokin 3 (2020-21)

        Chico Resch 3 (1974-75)

(Resch appeared in 25 games in 1974-75 and thus was considered a rookie the following year; Sorokin will be a rookie next season as well if he does not appear in 26 games)

Home Sweet Home

The Isles have earned points in 22 of their first 25 home games (19-3-3); it is their best home record through 25 games in the Post-Cup Era:

Most Points at Home Through 25 Games

• 42 1978-79 (19-2-4)

• 42 1977-78 (19-2-4)

• 42 1980-81 (20-3-2)

• 41 2020-21 (19-3-3)

Towards the Top of the Chart

The Isles now have 63 points in 49 games; it is tied for their second-highest point total through 49 games in the Post-Cup era:

• 65 2014-15

• 63 2020-21

• 63 2018-19

• 63 2019-20

Solid D

The Isles have allowed only 113 goals (including 2 shootout winners) in 49 games; it is the fewest goals that they have allowed through 49 games in their history:

• 113 (2020-21)

• 114 (1975-76)

• 120 (1977-78)

• 122 (1976-77)

• 122 (2018-19)

Results vs. Each East Division Opponent

• Boston W-W-W-Wso-Wot-L-L Remaining games: 1  (0 home, 1 away)

• Buffalo W-W-W-W-W-W         Remaining games: 2  (0 home, 2 away)

• New Jersey W-L-W-W-W-Wso Remaining games: 2  (2 home, 0 away)

• Rangers         W-L-W-L-Wot-W         Remaining games: 2  (1 home, 1 away)

• Philadelphia Lot-Lot-L-W-Wot-Wso-Wso-Wot Remaining games: 0

• Pittsburgh         W-Lso-L-L-Lot-W-L-L Remaining games: 0

• Washington L-L-L-W-W-Lso-L-L Remaining games: 0

Home and Road

The Isles are 29-15-5 overall; they are 19-3-3 at home and 10-12-2 on the road.

Washington is 32-13-4 overall; they are 15-6-2 at home and 17-7-2 on the road.

Coach Trotz

Barry Trotz is second among active coaches, trailing only Joel Quenneville, in both wins and games. Trotz' NHL record is 874-633-60-156 in 1,723 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville    957

3. Barry Trotz    874

Most Games Coached

1. Scotty Bowman   2,141

2. Joel Quenneville  1,755

3. Barry Trotz          1,723

Sweet Lou

Lou Lamoriello has the second-highest win total for any general manager in NHL history:

1. David Poile 1,442 

2. Lou Lamoriello 1,323

3. Glen Sather 1,319

It All Starts at the Top

Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,197 wins between them.  They start each game with more than any other pair in NHL history (David Poile and Peter Laviolette had 2,036 after their last game together).   Bill Torrey and Al Arbour had a then-record 1,462 at the end of the 1991-92 season, which was their last season together.  

First Things First

The Isles are 20-1-2 when scoring first and are 9-14-3 when allowing the opening goal. 

• At home, Isles are 13-0-2 scoring first and 6-3-1 trailing first

• On road, Isles are 7-1-0 scoring first and 3-11-2 trailing first

The Isles have won 87.0% of the games that they have scored first, which is the highest percentage in the NHL (just ahead of Edmonton - .864 and Vegas - .862).  The Isles are the only team with just one regulation loss when scoring first.

The Shots

Isles    7-5-6=18

Washington    10-13-10=33

The Isles are 18-5-2 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-1-0 when the shots are even and 10-9-3 when they are outshot.  Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 63-34-13 when outshot.

In the Nets

Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves but falls to 12-6-1 on the season and 0-2-0 in his career against Washington. 

Vitek Vanacek made 18 saves to improve to 18-9-3 on the season and 3-1-0 in his career against the Isles. 

Special Teams

The Isles were 0-3 on the power play (6:00); Washington was 0-2 on the power play (2:44), including a 1:16 5-on-3.

The Isles are 12-5-3 when they score at least one power play goal and 17-10-2 when they do not.  The Isles are 6-9-2 when they allow at least one power play goal and 23-6-3 when they do not.

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 21-4-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 8-11-2 when they do not.  Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 87-9-10 when scoring three or more.

One-Goal Games

The Isles are 14-5-5 in games decided by a single goal including 6-5 in regulation. They are 4-3 in games decided in overtime and are 4-2 in shootouts.  The Isles are 0-0 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

• 2014-15 -- .605

• 2018-19 -- .594

• 2020-21 -- .583

Back-to-Backs

The Isles are 4-1-2 in the front-half and 4-2-1 in the back-half. The final back-to-back of the season will be on May 3rd/4th, both of which will be played in Buffalo.

 

Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 21-4-3 (.804) in back-ends. This is by far the best record of any NHL team in back-ends during this stretch.  Tampa Bay has the next best record: 19-8-3 (.683).

Series

The schedule as currently comprised has the Isles playing the same opponent in consecutive games seventeen times this season (including three-game stretches vs. the Sabres, Devils, Flyers, and Capitals).

  

In two-game series, the Isles are 3-5-2 in the first game and 3-6-1 in the second game:

NYR (W/L); NJ (W/L); WAS (L/L); PHI (Lot/Lot), BUF(W/W), PIT (L/L), PIT (Lot/W), PIT (L/L), NYR (L/Wot), BOS (L/L)

In three-game series, the Isles are 2-1-1 in the first game, 3-1-0 in the second game, and 3-1-0 in the third:

BUF (W/W/W), NJ (W/W/W), PHI (L/W/Wot), WAS (Lso/L/L)

Tired vs. Rested 

• The Isles are 5-2-1 when both teams played the night before. 

• The Isles are 1-2-0 when they are rested, and their opponents are not. 

• The Isles are 0-0-0 when their opponents are rested, and the Isles are not.

• The Isles are 23-11-4 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Nick Leddy (24:14); Washington: John Carlson (22:45)

Josh Bailey led Isles forwards with 18:47 of ice-time. 

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Nick Leddy (9-5-1), Ryan Pulock (15-7-3), Scott Mayfield (1-1-0), Mathew Barzal (1-1-1), Adam Pelech (3-1-0).

Face-offs

Isles 19, Washington 29 (40%)

No Islander won more than he lost; Nicklas Backstrom won 7 of 8 for Washington.

The Isles are 18-8-2 when they win more face-offs than the opposition, 0-4-1 when they are tied, and 11-5-1 when they win fewer.

Hit Count

Isles 32 (Cal Clutterbuck -7)

Washington 36 (Brendan Dillon -8)

Fights 

Matt Martin fought Zdeno Chara in the 2nd period; it was their second fight of the season (and 4th all-time).  

Season total: 5 (Martin -2, Cizikas -1, Wahlstrom -1, Johnston-1)

 

Blocked Shots

Isles 16 (Three with 3)

Washington 12 (Three with 2)

For the Analytics Crowd 

Corsi: All situations: Isles 45, Washington 66

Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 30, Washington 60

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles:  Mathew Barzal +4

Washington: John Carlson +17

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)

All situations: Isles 11, Washington 20

5-on-5: Isles 4, Washington 20

Scratches

Sebastian Aho, Semyon Varlamov, (Anders Lee-LTIR), Ross Johnston, Noah Dobson, Leo Komarov, Brian Bellows

Games Lost: 54

COVID Games Lost -6

250-Game Club

The Isles have two players who have active consecutive game streaks of at least 250 games, and they are two of just 14 players in the NHL whose streak began no later than the start of the 2017-18 season.   

Ironman Streaks: Brock Nelson 294, Mathew Barzal 281, Ryan Pulock 244.  All three players have appeared in every game since Barry Trotz became the Isles' coach.

Iron Man

Brock Nelson has the longest active streak (and now has the 4th-longest in club history); Mathew Barzal is 6th on this list while Ryan Pulock is 9th:

1. Billy Harris 10/7/1972 -11/30/1979 576 (*)

2. Bobby Nystrom 1/7/1975 - 11/25/1978 301

3. Anders Lee 1/26/2017 – 3/13/2021 295

4. Brock Nelson 3/16/2017 – CURRENT 294

5. Matt Moulson 10/3/2009 - 4/4/2013 284

6. Mathew Barzal 10/6/2017- CURRENT 281

7. Denis Potvin 11/29/1975 - 1/17/1979 262

8. John Tavares 10/16/2010 - 12/23/2013 246

9. Ryan Pulock 12/29/2017 – CURRENT 244

10. J.P. Parise 1/7/1975 – 1/7/1978 240 (**)

 (*) Start of NHL career.

(**) Entire career with Islanders

Pulock's streak is the 2nd-longest by an Islander defenseman, trailing only Denis Potvin's 262-game streak.

Challenges

Isles: 1 successful, 0 failures 

The Isles are 1-0-0 in games that they are successful and 0-0-0 in games that they are unsuccessful.(offsides 2/16 @BUF)

Opponents: 1 successful, 1 failure (goalie interference 1/14 @ NYR, no goalie interference 3/11 vs NJ)

The Isles are 1-0-0 in games where opponents' challenges go their way and 1-0-0 in games that go the opponents' way.

Last Minute Heroes:

The Isles have scored one goal and allowed four goals in the final three minutes of the third period that were either the winning goal or forced overtime:

For: 1 [Anders Lee, 2/6/21 vs PIT (17:14) -winning goal]

Vs:  4 [Justin Schultz, 1/26/21 @ WSH (19:33)-winning goal; Evgeni Malkin, 2/11/21 vs PIT (19:42) – tying goal/PIT won in OT; Oskar Lindblom, 3/18/21 vs PHI (17:38)-winning goal; Anders Bjork, 3/25/21 vs BOS (17:54) – tying goal/Isles won in OT]

All-time Islander Leader Boards:

Games Played (skaters)

1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 912…

13. Stefan Persson 622 *** 14. Matt Martin 609 *** 15. Frans Nielsen 606 *** 16. Kenny Jonsson and Brock Nelson 597 *** 18. Garry Howatt 596 *** 19. John Tonelli 594 *** 20. Casey Cizikas 583 … 

27. Kyle Okposo 529 *** 28. Cal Clutterbuck 522 *** 29.  Anders Lee 520 *** 30. Dave Lewis 514 *** 31.  Nick Leddy 511

Goals

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

11. John Tonelli 206 *** 12. Billy Harris and Anders Lee 184 *** 14. Ziggy Palffy 168 *** 15. Brock Nelson 166 *** 16. Josh Bailey 162

Assists

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

4. Clark Gillies 359 *** 5. John Tavares 349 *** 6.  Josh Bailey 342 …

19. Pierre Turgeon and Nick Leddy 193

Points

1. Bryan Trottier 1,353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1,126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1,052…

9. Bob Bourne 542 *** 10. Bob Nystrom 513 *** 11. Josh Bailey 504…

20. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 21. Brock Nelson 321 ***  22. Anders Lee 320

Games Coached 

1. Al Arbour 1,500 *** 2. Jack Capuano 483 *** 3. Barry Trotz 199

 

Coaching Wins

1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 112

On the Farm

Bridgeport is 6-13-2-0 on the season (4-6-1-0 vs. Hartford and 2-7-1-0 vs. Providence) following a 3-2 overtime loss to Hartford on Tuesday; Dmytro Timashov and Cole Bardreau scored 28 seconds apart in the third period to extend Bridgeport's point streak to four games (3-0-1).  

Bridgeport returns to action on Thursday afternoon when they play Providence in Marlborough, Massachusetts, before hosting the Bruins Monday and visiting Hartford Tuesday to end the season.

Season Series Stats

Washington wins the season series 6 games to 2 (and 12 points to 5). 

The Isles went 2-5-1 while Washington was 6-2-0.

The Isles were 2-1-1 at the Coliseum vs. the Caps but went 0-4-0 in Washington.

UP NEXT

THURSDAY, APRIL 29th  –ISLANDERS AT RANGERS 7:00pm

[MSG+2 [pre-game at 6:30], WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN 1050]

The Isles end their April schedule and begin a traditional home-and-home series with the Rangers with their final visit of the season to Madison Square Garden. 

The Isles have taken two games out of three from the Rangers at both the Garden and the Coliseum, with their sole loss at MSG coming in Ilya Sorokin's NHL debut.

The Isles can clinch a playoff berth with a regulation sweep of the home and home, but the Rangers could close within a single point of the Isles if they could manage a regulation sweep.

Barry Trotz will coach his 200th game for the Islanders.

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