The Skinny: Buffalo 4, Isles 3 (SO)

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 53

Buffalo 4, Isles 3 (Shootout)

Anders Bjork scored the game's final two goals and then scored the only tally of the shootout as the Buffalo Sabres made it wins on back-to-back nights over the Isles, with a 4-3 shootout win at KeyBank Center.

28-year-old Michael Houser made it two wins in as many games despite a season-high 48 Islander shots. Mathew Barzal did not play for the Islanders, ending his 284 consecutive game streak.

The Isles remain in 4th place in the East Division, five points behind Pittsburgh, three points behind Washington and one point behind Boston. The Isles have three games to play, Pittsburgh has two and Boston and Washington each have four.

 

The Scoring:

1st Period

Cody Eakin (3) Jeff Skinner (7), Drake Caggiula (7) 15:59 NYI 0,BUF 1

Anthony Beauvillier (14) Josh Bailey (26), Brock Nelson (14) 16:25 NYI 1,BUF 1

2nd Period

Ryan Pulock (2) Cal Clutterbuck (7), Ross Johnston (1) 03:44 NYI 2,BUF 1

Cal Clutterbuck (4) 09:16 NYI 3,BUF 1 SHG

Anders Bjork (4) Colin Miller (7), Victor Olofsson (18) 17:37 NYI 3,BUF 2

3rd Period

Anders Bjork (5) Victor Olofsson (19) 10:56 NYI 3,BUF 3 

OT

No Goals

The Skinny        

The Isles are 12-10-2 since the end of their 9-game win streak (and 12-game point streak) … The Isles had killed 33 of the last 35 opponent power plays…The team that has scored first has won 15 of the last 16 Islander games ….The Isles have only five regulation wins in the last 21 games (two vs Washington and three vs. the Rangers)… Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey each extended their point streak to four games; Bailey has at least one assist in each of those games and is now just one assist behind John Tavares for 5th place on the all-time club list….Adam Pelech played his 300th NHL game…The Isles have now played at least one overtime game against each of the other seven teams in the East Division…The Isles got a goal from the defense for the second straight game; it gives the defense 15 goals on the season [ahead of only Toronto (13) and Winnipeg (10)]…Cal Clutterbuck matched his career-high with his 25th 2-point game; ten of his eighteen career shorthanded goals have been scored as an Islander.  He is the 12th Islander to score at least ten shorties…The Isles had a season-high 48 shots on goal; it is the fourth time under Barry Trotz that they have had at least that many; the 21 shots in the first period represent a season high in any period…Anders Bjork recorded his 2nd career 2-goal game; it was the second time this season (March 25th for Boston) that he has scored a goal that sent a game against the Isles to overtime.

The Shootout

Sam Reinhart (NG) /Jordan Eberle (NG)

Anders Bjork (G/GDG)/ Anthony Beauvillier (NG)

Casey Mittelstadt (NG)/ Oliver Wahlstrom (NG)

Anders Bjork scored the deciding goal on his first career shootout attempt…Ilya Sorokin falls to 3-1 in shootouts; he has stopped 13 of 15 attempts...Both teams are now 4-3 in shootouts this season.

First Times in a Long Time 

The Isles led after two periods in consecutive games but didn't win either of them for the first time since February 2018; it happened on consecutive days for the first time since March 2014.

The Playoff (Positioning) Chase  (all have clinched berth)

X-Pittsburgh 73 points/ 27 regulation wins (2 to play)

X -Washington 71 points/ 27 regulation wins (4 to play)

X -Boston         69 points/ 24 regulation wins (4 to play)

X-ISLES         68 points/ 23 regulation wins (3 to play)

Remaining Schedule:

• Wednesday- WAS @ NYR

• Thursday- NJD @ Isles, NYR @ BOS, BUF @ PIT

• Friday – PHI @ WAS 

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

• Sunday, May 9th – Happy Mother's Day (no games)

• Monday, May 10th – Isles @ BOS, NJ @ PHI

• Tuesday, May 11th – BOS @ WAS

Race for the Jennings (includes shootout losers)

1. Vegas    116 goals allowed in 51 games  2.27

2. Isles      122 goals allowed in 53 games  2.30

3. Carolina 126 goals allowed in 53 games  2.38

4. Boston   127 goals allowed in 52 games  2.44

Most Shutouts in a Season

• 11 2018-19 (82-game schedule)

• 10  2020-21 (56-game schedule)

• 10 1975-76 (80-game schedule)

The Isles will earn a shutout in at least 17.9% of their games this season, breaking the previous record (13.4% in 2018-19).

Longest Shutout Streaks in Isles History (Goalie)

1. Semyon Varlamov 2020-21 248:00

2. Glenn Resch 1975-76 178:29

3. Robin Lehner 2018-19 177:43

Longest Shutout Streaks in Isles History (Team)

1. 2020-21 212:35

2. 1997-78 199:14

3. 2014-15 193:48

Varly Solid

Semyon Varlamov is 12-6-2 in his last twenty decisions, allowing just 40 goals in that span.  Varly has won 19 games this season with a goals against average of 2.02 and save percentage of .930.  Varlamov has 251 NHL wins (passing Johnny Bower for 61st) and 34 shutouts, including an NHL-leading seven this season.

Most Shutouts by an Islander Goalie (one season):

1. Semyon Varlamov 7 (2020-21)

        Chico Resch 7 (1975-76)

Lowest Goals Against by an Islander Goalie (one season) (minimum 1000 minutes):

1. Semyon Varlamov 2.02 (2020-21)

2. Chico Resch 2.08 (1975-76)

3. Robin Lehner 2.13 (2018-19)

4. Ilya Sorokin 2.19 (2020-21)

Highest Save Percentage by an Islander Goalie (one season) (minimum 1000 minutes):

1. Semyon Varlamov .9298 (2020-21)

2. Robin Lehner .9297 (2018-19)

3. Chico Resch .928 (1975-76)

4. Thomas Greiss .927 (2018-191)

Sorokin's Shining

Ilya Sorokin is 12-4-1 in his last seventeen starts. He has allowed two goals or fewer in six of his last eight appearances and in twelve of his last seventeen 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 turns 26 this summer so he will not have rookie status next season) 

Home Sweet Home

The Isles have earned points in 23 of their first 26 home games (20-3-3); it is their best home record through 26 games in the Post-Cup Era:

Most Points at Home Through 26 Games

• 44 1977-78 (20-2-4)

• 44 1980-81 (21-3-2)

• 43 1978-79 (19-2-5)

• 43 2020-21 (20-3-3)

Top of the Chart

The Isles now have 68 points in 53 games; it is one point behind 2014-15 for the most points through 53 games in the Post-Cup era:

• 69 2014-15

• 68 2020-21

• 68 2019-20

• 68 2018-19

Solid D

The Isles have allowed only 122 goals (including 3 shootout winners) in 53 games; it is the fewest goals that they have allowed through 53 games in their history:

• 122 (2020-21)

• 130 (1975-76)

• 133 (1977-78)

• 133 (2003-04)

• 133 (1976-77)

• 134 (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-L-Lot Remaining games: 0

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

• Rangers         W-L-W-L-Wot-W-W-W Remaining games: 0

• 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 31-16-6 overall; they are 20-3-3 at home and 11-13-3 on the road.

Buffalo is 15-32-7 overall; they are 8-16-4 at home and 7-16-3 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 876-634-60-157 in 1,727 games. 

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  960

3. Barry Trotz    876

Most Games Coached

1. Scotty Bowman   2,141

2. Joel Quenneville 1,759

3. Barry Trotz        1,727

Sweet Lou

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

1. David Poile 1,444

2. Lou Lamoriello 1,325

3. Glen Sather 1,319

It All Starts at the Top

Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,201 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 22-2-2 when scoring first and are 9-14-4 when allowing the opening goal. 

• At home, Isles are 14-0-2 scoring first and 6-3-1 trailing first

• On road, Isles are 8-2-0 scoring first and 3-11-3 trailing first

The Isles have won 84.6% of the games that they have scored first, which is the highest percentage in the NHL (just behind Edmonton - .875 and Vegas - .871).   

The Shots

Isles    21-8-18-1=48

Buffalo       9-11-11-0=31

The Isles are 19-5-3 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-1-0 when the shots are even and 11-10-3 when they are outshot.  Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 64-35-13 when outshot.

In the Nets

Ilya Sorokin made 28 saves; he is 12-6-2 on the season and 3-0-1 in his career against Buffalo. He is 3-1 in shootouts.

Michael Houser made 44 saves (and three more in the shootout) to improve to 2-0-0. 

Special Teams

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

The Isles are 13-5-3 when they score at least one power play goal and 18-11-3 when they do not.  The Isles are 6-10-2 when they allow at least one power play goal and 25-6-4 when they do not.

Three is (Usually) a Magic Number

The Isles are 23-4-4 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 8-12-2 when they do not.  Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 88-9-11 when scoring three or more.

One-Goal Games

The Isles are 14-5-6 in games decided by a single goal including 6-5 in regulation. They are 4-3 in games decided in overtime and are 4-3 in shootouts.  The Isles are 0-1 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.

Back-to-Backs

Including tonight, the Isles are 4-2-2 in the front-half and 4-2-2 in the back-half. This was the final back-to-back of the season.

 

Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 21-4-4 (.793) 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: 20-8-3 (.694).

Series

The Isles are playing the same opponent in consecutive games sixteen times this season (including three-game stretches vs. the Sabres, Devils, Flyers, and Capitals).

  

In two-game series, the Isles are 4-6-2 in the first game and 4-6-2 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), NYR (W/W), BUF (L/Lot)

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)

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Adam Pelech (24:00); Buffalo: Rasmus Ristolainen (26:37)

Travis Zajac led Isles forwards with 18:08 of ice-time. 

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Nick Leddy (9-5-1), Ryan Pulock (16-8-3), Scott Mayfield (1-1-0), Mathew Barzal (1-1-1), Adam Pelech (4-1-1).

Face-offs

Isles 34, Buffalo 19 (64%)

JG Pageau won 13 of 18 for the Isles; Cody Eakin won 8 of 14 for Buffalo.

The Isles are 19-9-3 when they win more face-offs than the opposition, 0-4-1 when they are tied, and 12-5-2 when they win fewer.

Hit Count

Isles 19 (Ross Johnston -4)

Buffalo 16 (Rasmus Ristolainen -4)

Fights 

There were no fights.  Season total: 5 (Martin -2, Cizikas -1, Wahlstrom -1, Johnston-1)

 

Blocked Shots

Isles 11 (Andy Greene -3)

Buffalo 14 (Henri Jokiharji -3)

For the Analytics Crowd 

Corsi: All situations: Isles 75, Buffalo 51

Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 71, Buffalo 48

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles:  Ryan Pulock +19

Buffalo: Victor Olofsson +9

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)

All situations: Isles 12, Buffalo 8

5-on-5: Isles 11, Buffalo 8

Scratches

(Anders Lee-LTIR), Cory Schneider, Sebastian Aho, Braydon Coburn,  Brian Bellows, Mathew Barzal, Leo Komarov, Matt Martin

Games Lost: 59

COVID Games Lost -6

Iron Man Club

Brock Nelson has played in 298 consecutive games and Ryan Pulock in 248; both have appeared in every game since Barry Trotz became the Isles' coach.  Mathew Barzal's streak ended at 284 tonight.

Iron Man

Brock Nelson has the longest active streak (and the 3rd -longest in club history) while Ryan Pulock is 8th:

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

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

3. Brock Nelson 3/16/2017 – CURRENT 298

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

5. Mathew Barzal 10/6/2017- 5/3/2021 284

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

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

8. Ryan Pulock 12/29/2017 – CURRENT 248

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

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: 2 successful, 1 failure (goalie interference 1/14 @ NYR, no goalie interference 3/11 vs NJ, goalie interference 5/3 @ BUF)

The Isles are 1-0-0 in games where opponents' challenges go their way and 1-1-0 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 916…

13. Stefan Persson 622 *** 14. Matt Martin 612 *** 15. Frans Nielsen 606 *** 16. Brock Nelson 601 *** 17. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 18. Garry Howatt 596 *** 19. John Tonelli 594 *** 20. Casey Cizikas 587 … 

27. Kyle Okposo 529 *** 28. Cal Clutterbuck 526 *** 29.  Anders Lee 520 *** 30. Nick Leddy 515

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 348 …

17.  Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen 230 *** 19.Nick Leddy 196

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 510…

20. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 21. Brock Nelson 324 ***  22. Anders Lee 320

Games Coached 

1. Al Arbour 1,500 *** 2. Jack Capuano 483 *** 3. Barry Trotz 203

 

Coaching Wins

1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 114

On the Farm

Bridgeport dropped a 4-3 decision to Hartford to finish their season with a record of 8-14-2-0 (4-7-1-0 vs. Hartford and 4-7-1-0 vs. Providence).  The Sound Tigers went 5-1-1-0 in their last seven games. 

Season Series Stats

The Isles win the season series 6 games to 2 (and 13 points to 4). 

The Isles are 6-1-1 while Buffalo is 2-6-0.

The Isles went 4-0-0 at the Coliseum vs. Buffalo and 2-1-1 on the road.  The Isles are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games with the Sabres.

UP NEXT

THURSDAY, MAY 6th  –NEW JERSEY AT ISLANDERS 7:00pm

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

The Isles return home for the final regular season games scheduled to be played at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum as they entertain the Devils for a pair of games beginning on Thursday.

The Isles are 45-18-8 at the Coliseum since returning home in December 2019.

After splitting a pair of games in January, the Isles won all four games from the Devils in March to grab a 5-1 lead in the season series.

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