The Skinny: Washington 6, Isles 3

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 48

Washington 6, Isles 3

Daniel Sprong scored twice and Evgeny Kuznetsov added three points as the Washington Capitals earned a 6-3 win over the Isles before a socially-distanced crowd of 1,400 at the Nassau Coliseum.

The Isles got unassisted goals from Anthony Beauvillier (power play) and Adam Pelech (shorthanded) to erase a 2-0 lead and later got a power play tally from JG Pageau but fell to the Caps for the fifth time this season.

The Isles have fallen to 3rd place in the East Division, two points behind Pittsburgh and three points behind Washington. All three teams have eight games to play.  Boston is three behind the Isles; the Bruins have 10 games to play.

The Scoring:

1st Period

Garnet Hathaway (5) Nick Jensen (11) 02:33 WSH 1,NYI 0

T.J. Oshie (17) Nicklas Backstrom (34), Anthony Mantha (12) 10:55 WSH 2,NYI 0

Anthony Beauvillier (10) 14:28  WSH 2,NYI 1 PPG

2nd Period

Adam Pelech (3) 07:37 WSH 2,NYI 2 SHG

Nic Dowd (9) Brenden Dillon (14), Trevor van Riemsdyk (1) 12:21 WSH 3,NYI 2

Daniel Sprong (8) Evgeny Kuznetsov (18), Brenden Dillon (15) 14:46 WSH 4,NYI 2

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (14) Noah Dobson (11), Mathew Barzal (26) 17:12 WSH 4,NYI 3 PPG

3rd Period 

Evgeny Kuznetsov (9) 07:35 WSH 5,NYI 3

Daniel Sprong (9) Tom Wilson (18), Evgeny Kuznetsov (19) 14:43 WSH 6,NYI 3

The Skinny        

The Isles are 10-8-1 since the end of their 9-game win streak (and 12-game point streak) … The Isles have killed 24 of the last 25 opponent power plays and have scored a shorthanded goal as well… Travis Zajac replaced Leo Komarov in the line-up.… The team that scored first has won the last eleven Islander games ….The Isles have only three regulation wins in the last 16 games…The Isles have scored only 15 goals (two in overtime) in their last eight games, and that includes 6 vs. the Rangers on April 20th… It is the first time since February 28th vs Pittsburgh that the Isles have scored twice on the power play…Ilya Sorokin allowed six goals for the first time in his career; he had allowed no more than three in any previous home start…The Caps improve to 4-0-1 this season and 18-14-3 all-time when Alex Ovechkin does not play; the Caps have beaten the Isles three times this season without Ovechkin in the lineup…The Isles matched season highs in power play goals for (2) and in goals allowed (6); it is only the 4th time under Trotz that the Isles have allowed six even-strength goals…Brendan Dillon went +4 for the Caps; four Isles went -3…Zdeno Chara became the fifth defenseman in NHL history to play 1,600 games.

First Time in a Long Time

• The Isles scored three goals without scoring at even-strength for the first time since March 16, 2018, also a 6-3 loss to Washington.

• The Isles scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded for the first time since a 4-1 win in Minnesota on February 23, 2016.

• Adam Pelech is the first Islander defenseman since Scott Mayfield (11-3-18 vs New Jersey- empty net) to score shorthanded.  No Islander defenseman had scored shorthanded against a goalie since Johnny Boychuk scored the winning goal vs. Arizona's Louie Domingue on 10-21-16 at Barclays Center.

Magic Number Time

The Islanders' magic number for clinching a playoff spot remains 8 over the Rangers and 5 over Philadelphia.  New Jersey and Buffalo cannot catch the Isles.

The Playoff Chase  (top 4 make playoffs)

Washington 66 points (8 to play)

Pittsburgh         65 points (8 to play)

ISLES 63 points (8 to play)

Boston 60 points (10 to play)

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

Rangers      54 points (8 to play)

Philadelphia 49 points (9 to play)

This Week's Schedule:

• Sunday – BUF @ NYR, NJ @ PHI, BOS @ PIT

• Monday – no games

• Tuesday – Isles @ WAS, BUF @ NYR, PHI @ NJ, BOS @ PIT

• Wednesday – no games

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

• Friday – no games

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

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 12-3-0 in his last fifteen starts; this was his first home loss after becoming the first goalie in NHL history to win his first eight career starts in one season   Two others have won at least eight straight over multiple seasons: Gord Mc Rae for Toronto in 1972-73 and 1974-75 (10); Michel Plasse for St. Louis and Montreal in 1970-71 and 1972-73 (8).

Only one other NHL rookie goalie in the last 39 years has won eight straight at home at any point  in a single season- Semyon Varlamov did that in 2009-10 for Washington.

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 24 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 48 games; it is their second-highest point total through 48 games in the Post-Cup era:

• 65 2014-15

• 63 2020-21

• 62 2018-19

• 61 2019-20

The Isles have allowed only 112 goals (including 2 shootout winners) in 48 games; it matches the fewest goals that they have allowed through 48 games in their history:

• 112 (2020-21)

• 112 (1975-76)

• 114 (1977-78)

• 118 (1976-77)

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 Remaining games: 1  (0 home, 1 away)

Home and Road

The Isles are 29-14-5 overall; they are 19-3-3 at home and 10-11-2 on the road.

Washington is 31-13-4 overall; they are 14-6-2 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 874-632-60-156 in 1,722 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  956

3. Barry Trotz    874

Most Games Coached

1. Scotty Bowman   2,141

2. Joel Quenneville 1,753

3. Barry Trotz        1,722

Sweet Lou

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

1. David Poile 1,441

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 9-13-3 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 3-10-2 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 and Vegas, both .857).  The Isles are the only team with just one regulation loss when scoring first.

The Shots

Isles    11-8-5=24

Washington    13-7-10=30

The Isles are 18-5-2 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-1-0 when the shots are even and 10-8-3 when they are outshot.  Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 63-33-13 when outshot.

In the Nets

Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves but falls to 12-5-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in his career against Washington. 

Ilya Samsonov made 21 saves to improve to 13-3-1 on the season and 5-2-0 in his career against the Isles. 

Special Teams

The Isles were 2-2 on the power play (1:03); Washington was 0-1 on the power play (2:00).

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

Three is (Usually) a Magic Number

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

One-Goal Games

The Isles are 14-4-5 in games decided by a single goal including 6-4 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

• 2020-21 -- .609

• 2014-15 -- .605

• 2018-19 -- .594

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 3-0-0 in the third:

BUF (W/W/W), NJ (W/W/W), PHI (L/W/Wot), WAS (Lso/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 23-10-4 when both teams are rested. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Adam Pelech (21:20); Washington: Dmitry Orlov (21:32)

JG Pageau led Isles forwards with 19:01 of ice-time. 

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Nick Leddy (9-4-1), Ryan Pulock (15-7-3), Scott Mayfield (1-1-0), Mathew Barzal (1-1-1), Adam Pelech (3-1-0).

Face-offs

Isles 28, Washington 25 (53%)

Travis Zajac won 6 of 9 for the Isles; Nic Dowd won 7 of 11 for the Washington.

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

Hit Count

Isles 36 (Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck -6)

Washington 28 (Brendan Dillon -4)

Fights 

There were no fights.  Season total: 4 (Cizikas -1, Wahlstrom -1, Martin -1, Johnston-1)

 

Blocked Shots

Isles 12 (JG Pageau and Noah Dobson -2)

Washington 12 (Four with 2)

For the Analytics Crowd 

Corsi: All situations: Isles 46, Washington 55

Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 40, Washington 54

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles:  Brendan Dillon +1

Washington: John Carlson and Brendan Dillon +9

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)

All situations: Isles 14, Washington 11

5-on-5: Isles 11, Washington 11

Scratches

Sebastian Aho, Cory Schneider, (Anders Lee-LTIR), Ross Johnston, Noah Dobson, Leo Komarov, Oliver Wahlstrom

Games Lost: 53

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 293, Mathew Barzal 280, Ryan Pulock 243.  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 293

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

6. Mathew Barzal 10/6/2017- CURRENT 280

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 243

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 911…

13. Stefan Persson 622 *** 14. Matt Martin 608 *** 15. Frans Nielsen 606 *** 16. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 17. Garry Howatt and Brock Nelson 596 *** 19. John Tonelli 594 *** 20. Casey Cizikas 582 … 

27. Kyle Okposo 529 *** 28. Cal Clutterbuck 521 *** 29.  Anders Lee 520 *** 30. Dave Lewis 514 *** 31.  Nick Leddy 510

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 198

 

Coaching Wins

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

On the Farm

Bridgeport is 6-13-1-0 on the season (4-6-0-0 vs. Hartford and 2-7-1-0 vs. Providence) following a 4-3 win over Hartford on Saturday; Blade Jenkins and Bobo Carpenter each scored a goal and added an assist as the Sound Tigers won their third straight game.  

Bridgeport returns to action on Tuesday afternoon when they host Hartford.

Season Series Stats

Washington leads the season series 5 games to 2 (and 10 points to 5). 

The Isles are 2-4-1 while Washington is 5-2-0.

UP NEXT

TUESDAY, APRIL 27th  –ISLANDERS AT WASHINGTON 7:00pm

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

The Isles will look to salvage the final game of the season series as the teams meet again on Tuesday in DC.

It will be the first game that the Caps have played before their home fans in more than a year.

Alexander Ovechkin still has 730 goals, leaving him just one behind Marcel Dionne for 5th place on the all-time list.  

Brendan Burke and AJ Mleczko will have the call on NBCSN.

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