The Skinny: Dallas 3, Isles 2

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 69

Dallas 3, Isles 2

Radek Faksa scored a shorthanded goal midway through the second period to break a 2-2 tie and that ended up being the difference as the Dallas Stars snapped the Isles' four game win streak with a 3-2 victory before a crowd of 17,876 at American Airlines Center. 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brock Nelson each scored for the Islanders, with Noah Dobson earning the primary assist on both goals.

The Isles fall to 32-28-9 and remain 11 points behind Washington. Each team has 13 games to play.  It's the closest that the Isles have been to Washington since mid-November.

The Scoring:

1st Period

Marian Studenic (2) Miro Heiskanen (27), Jamie Benn (24) 07:29 NYI 0,DAL 1

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (14) Noah Dobson (29), Josh Bailey (26) 11:47 NYI 1,DAL 1

Tyler Seguin (20) Joel Hanley (4), John Klingberg (36) 19:13 NYI 1,DAL 2

2nd Period

Brock Nelson (33) Noah Dobson (30) 00:31 NYI 2,DAL 2

Radek Faksa (5) Luke Glendening (6) 10:29 NYI 2,DAL 3 SHG

3rd Period

None

The Skinny           

The Isles are 11-4-1 in their last 16 games…Josh Bailey moved into 8th place on the Isles' all-time point list with an assist on Jean Gabriel Pageau's goal;  Bailey now has 545 points, one more than John Tonelli…Brock Nelson now has 19 goals since the All-Star Break; Anders Lee is the only other Islander with more goals in the entire season…JG Pageau has four goals in two games, giving him 14 goals on the season (matching last season's total)… The Isles have been outscored 13-10 in the final minutes of periods this season (excluding empty nets)… Every Star but Roope Hintz has at least one shot; 12 have 2 shots.  Isles were outshot for 45th time in 69 games…The Isles have allowed seven shorthanded goals this season after allowing only six goals in the first three seasons under Barry Trotz…With their two assists tonight, the Isles defense has contributed 34.8% of the team's assists, tied with Vancouver for second in the NHL behind Detroit (36.6%)

10-30 Noah

Noah Dobson is only the 4th Islander defenseman to have ten goals and 30 assists at age 22 or younger, joining Denis Potvin (3 times), Tomas Jonsson (1982-83) and Bryan Berard (1997-98).  Nick Leddy was the only other Islander defenseman of any age to do so in the last 12 years. 

Home is Where The Sorokin Is

Ilya Sorokin is 12-4-3 at UBS Arena. His 1.86 GAA is the lowest of any goalie who has played at least ten home games.

Since February 1st, he has been even better, going 6-1-1 in eight home starts (1.55 GAA, .950 save percentage); both the goals against average and the save percentage is the best in the NHL among goalies who have played at least two home games in that stretch .

Great in the Nets

• Ilya Sorokin is 5-2-0 in his last seven games; he has allowed just eleven goals in those seven games (1.66, .951).  Both the goals against and save percentage are the best in the NHL among goalies who have played at least four games in that stretch.

• Semyon Varlamov is 6-2-1 in his last nine decisions with a 2.45 GAA and a .929 save percentage.  

Special Special Teams

The Isles killed both of their penalties and have now killed 13 straight over their last five games and 52 of 58 in the last 20 games (89.8%).  At home they are even better, having killed 33 of 35 since the beginning of February; their 94.3% home PK in that span is second in the NHL to Carolina's 94.4%.

The Isles went 0-1 on the power play and are 13-46 (28.3%) in their last fifteen games.  

Zach Attack

Zach Parise, the 100th-leading goal scorer in NHL history, has 404 goals, leaving him two behind Rod Gilbert and John LeClair, three behind Marian Gaborik and four behind Patrik Elias and Ray Ferraro.

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 99 in 30 games since the break (3.3/gm).  

Forwards:

Before: 80-106-186 in 39 games (4.8/gm)

After:    88-105-193 in 30 games  (6.4/gm)

Defense:

Before: 12-47-59 in 39 games (1.5/gm)

After:    11-64-75 in 30 games (2.5/gm)

Most Career Goals by an Islander Wearing #27

1. Derek King 211

2. Anders Lee 209

3. John Tonelli 206

Most Shutouts In a Season

• 7 Chico Resch 1975-76

• 7 Semyon Varlamov 2020-21 (56-game season)

• 6 Ilya Sorokin 2021-22

• 6 Robin Lehner 2018-19

• 6 Jaroslav Halak 2014-15

Home and Road

The Isles are 32-28-9 overall; they are 18-13-4 at home and 14-15-5 on the road.

Dallas is 40-26-3 overall; they are 22-9-1 at home and 18-17-2 on the road.

Home is Where the Fans Are

The Isles have played 35 home games and recorded 27 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 909-664-60-166 in 1,799 games.

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  970

3. Barry Trotz    909

Most Games Coached

1. Scotty Bowman  2,141

2. Barry Trotz        1,799

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 1,486

2. Lou Lamoriello 1,358

3. Glen Sather 1,319

It All Starts at the Top

Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,267 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 26-8-5 when scoring first and are 6-20-4 when allowing the opening goal. 

The Shots

Isles    7-3-11=21

Dallas 18-11-11=40

The Isles are 12-6-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-1 when the shots are even and 20-21-4 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 86-57-17 when outshot.

In the Nets

Semyon Varlamov made 37 saves; he is 9-14-2 on the season and 17-8-2 vs Dallas.

Jake Oettinger made 19 saves; he is 25-12-1 on the season and 1-1-0 vs. the Isles.   

Special Teams

The Isles were 0-1 on the power play (2:00); Dallas was 0-2 on the power play (4:00).

The Isles are 17-8-5 when they score at least one power play goal and 15-20-4 when they do not. The Isles are 6-12-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 26-16-5 when they do not.

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 28-8-4 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 4-20-5 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 115-17-15 when scoring three or more.

One-Goal Games

The Isles are 9-9-9 in games decided by a single goal including 7-9 in regulation. They are 1-3 in games decided in overtime and are 1-6 in shootouts. The Isles are 1-6 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

The Isles are 8-5-1 in the front end and 5-8-1 in the back end. The next back-to-back will be April 8th in Carolina and April 9th in St. Louis.

 

Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 26-12-5 in back-ends. 

Matinee Isles

The Isles are 4-4-3 in matinees this season; the final matinees will be on April 23rd in Buffalo and April 24th at home vs. Carolina.

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Noah Dobson (24:29); Dallas: Miro Heiskanen (27:29)

Jean-Gabriel Pageau led Isles forwards with 19:46 of ice-time. 

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Adam Pelech (12-5-4), Noah Dobson (8-10-3), Ryan Pulock (7-4-1), 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 27, Dallas 28 (49%)

Mathew Barzal won 4 of 5 for the Isles; Radek Faksa won 6 of 8 for Dallas.

Hit Count

Isles 28 (Ross Johnston -6)

Dallas 16 (Two with 3)

Fights 

There were no fights. Season total: 21 (Chara 5, Martin 5, Johnston 3, Pageau 2, Mayfield 2, Wahlstrom 2, Bellows 1, Nelson 1, Palmieri 1)

 

Blocked Shots

Isles 15 (Ryan Pulock -3)

Dallas 13 (Joe Pavelski -4)

For the Analytics Crowd 

Corsi: All situations: Isles 44, Dallas 64

Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 39, Dallas 54

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Anders Lee +3

Dallas: Tyler Seguin +18

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)

All situations: Isles10, Dallas 21

5-on-5: Isles 10, Dallas 17

Scratches

(Cal Clutterbuck-INJ), (Scott Mayfield-INJ), Kieffer Bellows, Sebastian Aho

Games Lost: 152 (103 to injuries and 49 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 four goals and allowed two goals in the final three minutes of the third period that were either the winning goal or forced overtime:

For: 4  (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)

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)

All-time Islander Leader Boards:

Games Played (skaters)

1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 980…

9. Brent Sutter 694 *** 10. Matt Martin 672 *** 11. John Tavares 669  *** 12. Brock Nelson 664 *** 13. Casey Cizikas 652 … 

18. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 19. Garry Howatt 596 *** 20. John Tonelli 594 *** 21. Cal Clutterbuck 587 *** 22. Anders Lee 583

Goals    

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

9. Bobby Nystrom 235 *** 10. Derek King 211 *** 11. Anders Lee 209 *** 12. John Tonelli 206 *** 13. Brock Nelson 201 *** 14 Billy Harris 184 *** 15. Josh Bailey 170

Assists

1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 *** 4. Josh Bailey 375…

17. Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo 230 *** 19. Mathew Barzal 210 ***20. Nick Leddy 198 *** 21. Pierre Turgeon 193 *** 22. Ed Westfall 181 *** 23. Brock Nelson 177

Points

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

7. Pat LaFontaine 566 *** 8. Josh Bailey 545 *** 9. John Tonelli 544 *** 10. Bob Bourne 542 …

14. Billy Harris 443 *** 15. Brock Nelson 378 ***  16. Kyle Okposo and Stefan Persson 369 *** 18.  Anders Lee 361…

22. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 23. Mathew Barzal 300

+/-

1. Bryan Trottier +467 *** 2. Denis Potvin +456 *** 3. Mike Bossy +380…

19. JP Parise +67 *** 20. Adam Pelech +64 *** 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 275

 

Coaching Wins

1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 147

On the Farm

Bridgeport is 6-2-2-0 in their last ten games and 27-27-7-4 on the season following a 4-3 overtime loss to Hershey in a game played before over 6,000 fans at Total Mortgage Arena this morning.

Chris Terry continues to lead the team with 25 goals and 51 points while Otto Koivula has a team-leading 32 helpers. Jakub Skurek is 16-13-4 in goal on the season while Cory Schneider, 6-1-2 in his last nine games, is 10-10-3.

Bridgeport's next game is on Friday vs. Providence.

Season Series Stats

The team split the season series, 1 game to 1 (and 2 points to 2).    

The Isles are 3-2-0 in the last five games against the Stars, a stretch that dates back to late 2018.

UP NEXT

FRIDAY, APRIL 8th  – ISLANDERS AT CAROLINA 7:00 PM 

[MSG+ (Pre-game at 6:30pm), WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN Radio]

The road trip continues as the Isles play the fourth game of five consecutive road contests in Carolina against the Hurricanes. 

The teams opened the regular season against each other back on October 14th (a 6-3 Canes win), but this is the first meeting since.

The Isles are 0-3-2 in their last five games with Carolina.   The Canes are the Metropolitan team that the Isles will host only once, and it will come on April 24th.

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