"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 78
Buffalo 5, Isles 3
Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson scored in the first 4:05 of the second period to break a 1-1 tie as the Sabres defeated the Isles 5-3 before a crowd of 12,955 at KeyBank Center.
Noah Dobson and Kieffer Bellows scored 1:37 apart in the third period to get the Islanders within a goal but they could not get even as the Isles fell to 1-4-1 in their last six games. It's the first time since the 0-8-3 stretch in November/ December that the Isles (0-3-1) have gone at least four games without a win.
The Scoring:
1st Period
Casey Mittelstadt (5) Kyle Okposo (24), Casey Fitzgerald (6) 12:11 NYI 0,BUF 1
Mathew Barzal (15) Noah Dobson (35), Sebastian Aho (10) 17:09 NYI 1,BUF 1
2nd Period
Rasmus Dahlin (13) Jeff Skinner (29), Alex Tuch (26) 01:17 NYI 1,BUF 2 PPG
Tage Thompson (37) Jacob Bryson (9), Victor Olofsson (28) 04:05 NYI 1,BUF 3
Vinnie Hinostroza (13) Anders Bjork (3), Zemgus Girgensons (8) 12:48 NYI 1,BUF 4
3rd Period
Noah Dobson (12) Zach Parise (19), Zdeno Chara (12) 08:45 NYI 2,BUF 4
Kieffer Bellows (5) Ryan Pulock (15), Otto Koivula (2) 10:22 NYI 3,BUF 4
Jeff Skinner (33) Tage Thompson (30), Victor Olofsson (29) 12:40 NYI 3,BUF 5
The Skinny
The Isles are 14-9-2 in their last 25 games …Noah Dobson recorded his second consecutive multi-point game and extended his point streak to three games. He now has 47 points; no Islander defenseman has had 50 points since 2008-09 when Mark Streit had 56… Dobson needs two points to become the youngest Islander defenseman since Denis Potvin to have at least 49 points in a season…Dobson is the first Islander defenseman in 13 years to score at least 12 goals…Kieffer Bellows scored for the first time since February 27 vs. Anaheim…Adam Pelech had sixteen penalty minutes, just two shy of his season total. He had never had more than four penalty minutes in a game…Jeff Skinner picked up only his third misconduct penalty in his 851 game career… With 37 goals, Tage Thompson is youngest Sabre to do so since Thomas Vanek in 2006-07 (43 goals)…The Isles have been outscored 7-2 in the first period of the last six games and have allowed 34 goals in their last eight games (one of which was an Islander shutout)…The Sabres were not credited with a hit during the first period.
Battling the Big Boys
The Isles had faced three consecutive opponents who already had at least 100 points – it's only the third time that has ever happened; the Isles hosted opponents who already had at least 100 points in consecutive games for the first time in club history and will face a third (Carolina) on Sunday. If Washington reaches 100 points before facing the Isles on April 28th the Isles will play their final five home games against opponents with at least 100 points (which would be only the second time in NHL history that has happened – Montreal did this in 1971-72).
Isles Team Leaders
Goals: Nelson 36, Lee 26, Pageau 16
Assists: Barzal 40, Dobson 35, Bailey 27
Points: Nelson 58, Barzal 54, Dobson 47
• Nelson will lead the Isles in goals for the third straight season, after Lee did so in the prior three seasons.
• Barzal is looking to lead the team in assists for the fourth time in five seasons (Nick Leddy did so last year)
• Nelson is looking to end Barzal's 4-year run as the club point leader; Mike Bossy is the only Islander to lead the team in scoring in at least five straight seasons.
Home is Where The Sorokin Is
Ilya Sorokin is 13-4-4 at UBS Arena, with a 2.01 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Since February 1st, he has been even better, going 7-1-2 in ten home starts (1.93 GAA, .942 save percentage) .
PK is More Than Okay
The Isles killed five of their six penalties; they have killed 40 of 45 (88.9%) over their last fourteen games and 79 of 90 in the last 28 games (87.8%). At home they are even better, having killed 41 of 46 (89.1%) since the beginning of February.
And How About That Home PP?
Since the beginning of February, the Isles home PP has converted at a 32.9% rate (14-41). Only Florida (19-50, 38.0%) has had a better home power play in that stretch.
Zach Attack
Zach Parise has 408 career goals, tying him for 95th place all-time with Patrik Elias and Ray Ferraro and, passing Marian Gaborik. Ray Bourque has 410 goals and sits 94th.
All-Star Break Splits
The Islander offense has improved significantly since the All-Star break. The Isles scored 92 goals in 39 games before the break (2.4/gm) and have scored 122 in 39 games since the break (3.1gm).
Forwards:
Before: 80-106-186 in 39 games (4.8/gm)
After: 106-127-233 in 39 games (6.0/gm)
Defense:
Before: 12-47-59 in 39 games (1.5/gm)
After: 16-76-92 in 39 games (2.4/gm)
Most Career Goals by an Islander Wearing #27
1. Derek King 211
2. Anders Lee 210
3. John Tonelli 206
Most Shutouts In a Season
• 7 Ilya Sorokin 2021-22
• 7 Semyon Varlamov 2020-21 (56-game season)
• 7 Chico Resch 1975-76
• 6 Robin Lehner 2018-19
• 6 Jaroslav Halak 2014-15
Home and Road
The Isles are 35-33-10 overall; they are 19-14-5 at home and 16-19-5 on the road.
Buffalo is 31-38-11 overall; they are 16-18-6 at home and 15-20-5 on the road.
Home is Where the Fans Are
The Isles have played 38 home games and recorded 29 sellouts. The sellout crowds of 17,255 are the largest indoor crowds to ever see the Islanders play at home.
Leader of the Pack
Barry Trotz has coached more games and recorded more victories than any other active coach. Trotz' NHL record is 912-669-60-167 in 1,808 games.
Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman 1,244
2. Joel Quenneville 970
3. Barry Trotz 912
Most Games Coached
1. Scotty Bowman 2,141
2. Barry Trotz 1,808
3. Joel Quenneville 1,768
Sweet Lou
Lou Lamoriello has the second-highest win total for any general manager in NHL history:
1. David Poile 1,490 (pending game Saturday night)
2. Lou Lamoriello 1,361
3. Glen Sather 1,319
It All Starts at the Top
Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,273 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 28-9-6 when scoring first and are 7-24-4 when allowing the opening goal.
The Shots
Isles 6-5-11=22
Buffalo 12-10-13=35
The Isles are 12-8-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-2-1 when the shots are even and 22-23-5 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 88-59-18 when outshot.
In the Nets
Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves; he is 25-17-8 on the season and 3-2-1 vs Buffalo.
Dustin Tokarski made 19 saves; he is 9-11-5 on the season and 3-0-0 vs. the Isles.
Special Teams
The Isles were 0-2 on the power play (4:00); Buffalo was 1-6 on the power play (11:42).
The Isles are 18-10-6 when they score at least one power play goal and 17-23-4 when they do not. The Isles are 7-15-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 28-18-5 when they do not.
Three is (Usually) a Magic Number
The Isles are 30-11-4 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 5-22-6 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 117-20-15 when scoring three or more.
One-Goal Games
The Isles are 11-9-10 in games decided by a single goal including 8-9 in regulation. They are 1-4 in games decided in overtime and are 2-6 in shootouts. The Isles are 1-7 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game (including one game the Isles scored after allowing an empty-netter).
Back-to-Backs
Including today, the Isles are 9-7-1 in the front end and 6-9-1 in the back end. This back-to-back concludes on Sunday vs. Carolina. The Isles will end the season with a back-to-back on April 28th vs. Washington and April 29th vs. Tampa Bay.
Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 27-13-5 in back-ends.
Matinee Isles
The Isles are 4-5-3 in matinees this season; the final matinee will be on Sunday at home vs. Carolina.
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Ryan Pulock (23:32); Buffalo: Rasmus Dahlin (24:05)
Mathew Barzal led Isles forwards with 18:29 of ice-time.
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Adam Pelech (12-5-4), Noah Dobson (9-12-3), Ryan Pulock (7-6-2), Anthony Beauvillier (0-1-0), Mathew Barzal (0-0-1), Zdeno Chara (2-1-0), Sebastian Aho (0-1-0), Robin Salo (0-2-0), Scott Mayfield (0-3-0), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (0-2-0).
Face-offs
Isles 30, Buffalo 20 (60%)
Casey Cizikas won 12 of 16 for the Isles; no Sabre won more than he lost.
Hit Count
Isles 14 (Zdeno Chara and Otto Koivula -3)
Buffalo 5 (Five with 1)
Fights
There were no fights. Season total: 22 (Martin 6, Chara 5, Johnston 4, Pageau 2, Mayfield 2, Wahlstrom 2, Bellows 1, Nelson 1, Palmieri 1)
Blocked Shots
Isles 10 (Three with 2)
Buffalo 10 (Owen Power -3)
For the Analytics Crowd
Corsi: All situations: Isles 36, Buffalo 58
Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 32, Buffalo 45
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Ryan Pulock +7
Buffalo: Rasmus Asplund +17
High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)
All situations: Isles 6, Buffalo 16
5-on-5: Isles 6, Buffalo 14
Scratches
(Cal Clutterbuck-INJ), (Scott Mayfield-INJ), (Anthony Beauvillier-INJ), (Jean-Gabriel Pageau-COVID Protocol)
Games Lost: 178 (127 to injuries and 51 to COVID protocol)
Zach Parise is the only Islander to have played in every game this season.
Challenges
Isles: 3 successful, 2 failures
Isles are 2-0-1 in games that they are successful (offside 1/18 @PHI, no goalie interference 2/22 @SEA, offside 3/15 @ WSH) and 0-2-0 in games that they are unsuccessful (no goalie interference 10/14 @CAR, no goalie interference 4/5 @DAL)
Opponents: 5 successful, 1 failure
The Isles are 2-2-1 in games where opponents' challenges go their way (goalie interference 10/16 @FLA and 10/23 @ARI; offside 12/19 vs VGK, goalie interference 3/5 vs STL, goalie interference 3/27 vs TB) and 0-0-1 in games where challenges go the Isles' way (goalie interference 3/15 vs WSH)
Last Minute Heroes:
The Isles have scored five goals and allowed two goals in the final three minutes of the third period that were either the winning goal or forced overtime:
For: 5 (Noah Dobson 19:56 – 12/5/21 vs CHI; Isles lost in SO) (Brock Nelson 17:03 – 2/20/22 vs OTT; Isles lost in SO), (Anders Lee 18:01 – 3/15/22 @ WSH; Isles lost in SO), (Kyle Palmieri 17:16 – 3/17/22 vs. NYR -GWG), (Kyle Palmieri 19:45 – 4/8/22 @ CAR – GWG)
Vs: 2 (Eeli Tolvanen 19:48 – 12/9/21 vs NSH-GWG), (Shea Theodore 19:12 – 12/19/21 vs VGK; Isles lost in SO)
The Isles allowed a tying goal to CAR on 4/8/22 but scored the winner in the final seconds.
All-time Islander Leader Boards:
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 989…
9. Brent Sutter 694 *** 10. Matt Martin 681 *** 11. Brock Nelson 673 *** 12. John Tavares 669 *** 13. Casey Cizikas 659 …
18. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 19. Garry Howatt 596 *** 20. John Tonelli 594 *** 21. Anders Lee 592 *** 22. Cal Clutterbuck 587
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
9. Bobby Nystrom 235 *** 10. Derek King 211 *** 11. Anders Lee 210 *** 12. John Tonelli 206 *** 13. Brock Nelson 204 *** 14 Billy Harris 184 *** 15. Josh Bailey 174
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 *** 4. Josh Bailey 376…
17. Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo 230 *** 19. Mathew Barzal 216 *** 20. Nick Leddy 198 *** 21. Pierre Turgeon 193 *** 22. Brock Nelson 182
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1,353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1,126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1,052…
7. Pat LaFontaine 566 *** 8. Josh Bailey 550 *** 9. John Tonelli 544 *** 10. Bob Bourne 542 …
14. Billy Harris 443 *** 15. Brock Nelson 386 *** 16. Kyle Okposo and Stefan Persson 369 *** 18. Anders Lee 363…
22. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 23. Mathew Barzal 306
+/-
1. Bryan Trottier +467 *** 2. Denis Potvin +456 *** 3. Mike Bossy +380…
19. JP Parise +67 *** 20. Adam Pelech +60 *** 21. Jude Drouin +58 *** 22. Patrick Flatley +57 *** 23. Greg Gilbert +54 *** 24. Gord Lane +48
Games Coached
1. Al Arbour 1,500 *** 2. Jack Capuano 483 *** 3. Barry Trotz 284
Coaching Wins
1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 150
On the Farm
Bridgeport is headed to the Calder Cup Playoffs! Bridgeport clinched a spot last night by beating Springfield 4-2 and having both Hartford and Lehigh Valley lose their games. The Isles are 10-4-2-0 in their last sixteen games and 31-29-7-4 on the season heading into their season finale on Saturday night vs. Hartford.
Chris Terry continues to lead the team with 30 goals and 59 points while Otto Koivula has a team-leading 35 helpers. Jakub Skurek is 16-14-4 in goal on the season while Cory Schneider is 14-11-4.
Season Series Stats
Buffalo wins the season series, 2 games to 1 (and 4 points to 2); the home team won all three games.
The Isles are winless in their last four games in Buffalo, which is their longest winless stretch there since going 0-4-1-1 in six trips between 1999 and 2001.
UP NEXT
SUNDAY, APRIL 24th – CAROLINA AT ISLANDERS 1:00 PM
[MSG+ (Pre-game at 12:30pm), WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN Radio]
The Isles return home to play their consecutive 100 point opponent at UBS Arena as the Carolina Hurricanes become the final opponent to finish UBS Arena. The teams split a pair of games in Raleigh earlier this season.
The Islander win on April 8th in Raleigh, coming on a late goal by Kyle Palmieri, was the Isles' first in the last six games against Carolina.
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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