The Skinny: Isles 4, New Jersey 3

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 68

Isles 4, New Jersey 3

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored a natural hat trick (his first hatty as an Islander) and added an assist while Cory Schneider made 27 saves to earn the win in his first NHL start since March 6, 2020, as the Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3  before a crowd of 14,620 at Prudential Center. 

Adam Pelech added three assists to give him 102 career points while Kyle Palmieri had two assists and a late goal that turned out to be the game-winner.    

The Isles have won four straight games to improve to 32-27-9, and a season-high five games over NHL-,500.  With the Capitals' home loss on Sunday night, the Isles have closed within 11 points of Washington and still have a game in hand.  It's the closest that the Isles have been to Washington since mid-November.

The Scoring:

1st Period

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (11) Kyle Palmieri (13), Adam Pelech (22) 11:56 NYI 1,NJD 0

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (12) Anders Lee (16) 14:00 NYI 2,NJD 0 PPG

2nd Period

Jean-Gabriel Pageau (13) Adam Pelech (23), Kyle Palmieri (14) 14:58 NYI 3,NJD 0

Jesper Boqvist (6) Damon Severson (29), Janne Kuokkanen (8) 15:45 NYI 3,NJD 1

3rd Period

Tomas Tatar (13) Andreas Johnsson (21), Dawson Mercer (23) 05:32 NYI 3,NJD 2

Kyle Palmieri (13) Jean-Gabriel Pageau (20), Adam Pelech (24) 14:53 NYI 4,NJD 2

Nico Hischier (19) Dawson Mercer (24), Dougie Hamilton (19) 18:54 NYI 4,NJD 3

The Skinny           

Cory Schneider made his Islander debut after serving as a back-up for 19 games…Schneider faced the Devils for only the second time, having beaten New Jersey on February 24, 2012 as a member of the Canucks…The Isles improve to 26-0-0 in games that they have had a two-goal lead at any point; they are 25-2-2 when leading after two periods… Adam Pelech recorded his second career three assist game…JG Pageau recorded his first four-point game as an Islander, and matched his career high in points…It's the fourth time this season an Islander has had at least 3 goals in a game  (Nelson 2, Lee and now Pageau)… Grant Hutton had six shots on goal, doubling his career high (3 on Thursday vs. Columbus). Kyle Palmieri matched a career high with three points (12th time), including his game-winning goal; Palmieri is tied with Brock Nelson for the team lead with 5 game-winners… It was Palmieri's 37th career game winner…Nico Hischier reached the 50-point mark with his late goal…The Isles had scored 9 straight goals (3 vs. CBJ, 3 vs. NYR, 3 vs NJD) before the Boqvist goal.

"New" Goalie

Either Semyon Varlamov or Ilya Sorokin had been the goalie for the Isles in every game both this season and last season; every other NHL team had used at least three goalies during that span.  It's the longest streak of only using two goalies for the Isles since Chris Osgood and Garth Snow split the net for all of the 2001-02, and most of the 2002-03 season.

Cory Schneider broke Steve Weeks' Islander record for most games as a backup before appearing in a game. Weeks was the backup for the first 10 games of the 1991-92 season.

How Do You Spell Game-Winning Goal?  K-Y-L-E

Kyle Palmieri recorded his 37th career game-winning goal (and his 198th career goal). No active NHL player with fewer than 200 career goals has as many game-winners as Kyle.  Five of his fifteen goals as an Islander have been GWGs.

The Injuries

Jack Hughes played only one shift following a collision with Oliver Wahlstrom in the second period; PK Subban was ejected after instigating a fight with Wahlstrom.  The Devils, who had lost Nathan Bastian earlier in the game, played most of the second period and all of the third period with only 15 skaters.

Hutt, Hutt, Hutton

Grant Hutton is only the 5th Islander defenseman to have six shots on goal in one of his first ten NHL games, joining Darius Kasparaitis, Bryan Berard, Ray Giroux and Devon Toews. (No defender has had more)

Racking up the PIM

PK Subban was assessed 27 penalty minutes for being the instigator and aggressor in a fight with Oliver Wahlstrom.  The 27 penalty minutes tie Nathan Bastian (then with Seattle) for the most in a game this season; Lawson Crouse was the last player to be assessed the instigator/aggressor (3-16-2021 for Arizona vs. Minnesota).

A Familiar Foe

This was the 38th time Barry Trotz and Lindy Ruff have faced-off as head coaches.  Trotz has now won 19, Ruff 18 and there was one tie.

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 6-1-1 in his last eight decisions with a 2.38 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Since March 10th, only Cam Talbot (7) has more wins than Varlamov (6).

Special Special Teams

The Isles killed both of their penalties and have now killed 11 straight over their last four games and 50 of 56 in the last 20 games (89.2%).  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 1-3 on the power play and are 13-45 (28.9%) in their last fourteen 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 97 in 29 games since the break (3.3/gm).  

Forwards:

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

After:    86-104-190 in 29 games  (6.6/gm)

Defense:

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

After:    11-62-73 in 29 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 32-27-9 overall; they are 17-13-4 at home and 14-14-5 on the road.

New Jersey is 24-39-6 overall; they are 16-15-4 at home and 8-24-2 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 909-663-60-166 in 1,798 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        1,798

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 1,485

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 6-19-4 when allowing the opening goal. 

The Shots

Isles    14-7-8=29

New Jersey    10-5-15=30

The Isles are 12-6-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-1-1 when the shots are even and 20-20-4 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 86-56-17 when outshot.

In the Nets

Cory Schneider made 27 saves; he is 1-0-0 on the season and 2-0-0 vs New Jersey.

Nico Dawes made 25 saves; he is 8-10-0 on the season and 0-1-0 vs. the Isles.   

Special Teams

The Isles were 1-3 on the power play (4:21); New Jersey 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 15-19-4 when they do not. The Isles are 6-12-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 26-15-5 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 4-19-5 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 115-17-15 when scoring three or more.

One-Goal Games

The Isles are 9-8-9 in games decided by a single goal including 7-8 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 (22:57); New Jersey: Dougie Hamilton (24:30)

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

Isles record by ice-time leaders: Adam Pelech (12-5-4), Noah Dobson (8-9-3), 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 31, New Jersey 22 (58%)

Casey Cizikas won 10 of 12 for the Isles; Dawson Mercer won 5 of 8 for New Jersey.

Hit Count

Isles 24 (Jean-Gabriel Pageau -5)

New Jersey 23 (Damon Severson- 4)

Fights 

Oliver Wahlstrom fought PK Subban in the second period. Season total: 21 (Chara 5, Martin 5, Johnston 3, Pageau 2, Mayfield 2, Wahlstrom 2, Bellows 1, Nelson 1, Palmieri 1)

 

Blocked Shots

Isles 12 (Ryan Pulock -3)

New Jersey 10 (Jonas Siegenthaler -10)

For the Analytics Crowd 

Corsi: All situations: Isles 47, New Jersey 63

Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 43, New Jersey 47

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Matt Martin and Grant Hutton +9

New Jersey: Jonas Siegenthaler +13

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)

All situations: Isles 9, New Jersey 18

5-on-5: Isles 8, New Jersey 9

Scratches

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

Games Lost: 150 (101 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, 1 failure

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 0-1-0 in games that they are unsuccessful (no goalie interference 10/14 @CAR).

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 979…

9. Brent Sutter 694 *** 10. Matt Martin 671 *** 11. John Tavares 669  *** 12. Brock Nelson 663 *** 13. Casey Cizikas 651 … 

18. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 19. Garry Howatt 596 *** 20. John Tonelli 594 *** 21. Cal Clutterbuck 587 *** 22. Anders Lee 582

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 200 *** 14 Billy Harris 184 *** 15. Josh Bailey 170

Assists

1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 *** 4. Josh Bailey 374…

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 and John Tonelli 544 *** 10. Bob Bourne 542 …

14. Billy Harris 443 *** 15. Brock Nelson 377 ***  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 274

 

Coaching Wins

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

On the Farm

Bridgeport dropped a pair of games over the weekend – 9-2 in Wilkes-Barre Scranton on Saturday and 4-3 to Lehigh Valley on Sunday.  The Baby Islanders are still 6-2-1-0 in their last nine games and are 27-27--6-4 on the season.

Chris Terry continues to lead the team with 24 goals and 50 points while Otto Koivula has a team-leading 32 helpers. Jakub Skurek is 16-13-4 in goal on the season while Cory Schneider, 6-1-1 in his last eight games, is 10-10-3.

Bridgeport's next game is on Tuesday morning (10:30am) vs. Hershey in a School Day matinee.

Season Series Stats

The Isles win the season series, 3 games to 1 (and 6 points to 2).    

The Isles are 14-4-0 in their last 18 games with the Devils, including 7-2-0 in Newark.  

UP NEXT

TUESDAY, APRIL 5th  – ISLANDERS AT DALLAS 8:30 PM 

[MSG+ (Pre-game at 8:00pm), WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN Radio]

The road trip continues as the Isles play the middle game of five consecutive road contests in Dallas against the Stars. 

It's game 69 of the 2021-22 season for the Isles, who played 68 and 56 games the past two seasons.

The Isles defeated Dallas just over two weeks ago at UBS Arena by a 4-2 score.  The Isles are 3-1-0 in the last four games against the Stars, a stretch that dates back to late 2018.

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