The Skinny: Isles 4, Washington 1

"The Skinny"      

By Eric Hornick

Game 80

Isles 4, Washington 1

Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson each scored power play goals as the Islanders snapped a five-game winless streak with a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals before a crowd of 18,573 at Capital One Arena.

After Kyle Palmieri had yet another goal disallowed, Conor Sheary gave the Caps a 1-0 lead ,but Pulock evened the game before the first period ended.  It stayed that way through 40 minutes and then the Isles got the power play goal from Dobson, a shorthanded goal from Casey Cizikas and an even-strength goal from Anders Lee for the final margin of victory.

The win ends the road season with a 17-19-5 record and guarantees the Islanders at least an NHL-.500 record.

The Scoring:

1st Period

Conor Sheary (19) Marcus Johansson (20), Nick Jensen (16) 10:24 NYI 0,WSH 1

Ryan Pulock (5) Kieffer Bellows (13), Kyle Palmieri (18) 16:18 NYI 1,WSH 1 PPG

2nd Period

No Goals

3rd Period

Noah Dobson (13) Josh Bailey (29), Mathew Barzal (40) 02:56 NYI 2,WSH 1 PPG

Casey Cizikas (10) 08:42 NYI 3,WSH 1 SHG

Anders Lee (27) 15:17 NYI 4,WSH 1

The Skinny            

The Isles are 15-10-2 in their last 27 games…Ryan Pulock scored on the power play for the second straight game and extended his point streak to three games …Kieffer Bellows now has a three-game point streak and also had five points in this last seven games (1-4-5) after going pointless in his ten prior appearances…Mathew Barzal reached the 40-assist mark for the fourth time in his career…Casey Cizikas recorded his 10th career shorthanded goal…The Isles scored two power play goals and a shorthanded goals in the same game for the third time this season..  Justin Schultz played his 600th NHL game…The Caps had outscored their opponents 101-69 in the third period before allowing three goals to the Isles…The Isles are 7-0-3 in the final road games of their last ten regular seasons (including 2020, when they did not know it would be a finale), winning in 2014-2019 and 2022…It is the second time in his career that Connor Sheary has scored at least 19 goals (career high is 23 in 2016-17)… Kyle Palmieri had a potential 200th goal erased by video review; he has had at least a half-dozen reversed this season.

The Illness

Both Zdeno Chara and Brock Nelson did not play due to non-Covid illness.  The Isles dressed only 17 skaters for the first time since March 24, 2007 ,in Philadelphia. 

First Times in a Long Time

• Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson are the first Islander defensemen to score a power play goal in the same game since Lubomir Visnovsky and Johnny Boychuk did so, also against the Caps, on December 29, 2014. (Both Nick Leddy and Pulock have scored two power play goals in a game in that span)

• Pulock is the first 1st Islander defenseman with PP goals in consecutive games in 12 years (Mark Streit - 1/9-1/12/2010); he will look to tie the club record of 3 (last done by Adrian Aucoin in 2002) on Thursday.

Chasing 27

Andres Lee played in his 594th game, tying John Tonelli for 20th in club history and then scored his 211th goal, tying Derek King for 10th in club history.  All three players wear/wore #27.

Playing the Big Boys

The Isles will end their home season by facing five consecutive opponents who had at least 100 points when they faced them.  It is only the second time in NHL history that has happened – Montreal did this in 1971-72… 

Isles Team Leaders

Goals:  Nelson 36, Lee 27, Pageau 16

Assists: Barzal 40, Dobson 35, Bailey 29

Points:  Nelson 58, Barzal 55, Dobson 48

• 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.

• Dobson has 48 points; no Islander defenseman has had 50 points since 2008-09 when Mark Streit had 56. Dobson is the first Islander defenseman in 13 years to score at least 13 goals.  

Most Points by an Islander Defenseman, Age 22 or Younger

1. Denis Potvin 98 (1975-76)

2. Denis Potvin 76 (1974-75)

3. Denis Potvin 54 (1973-74)

4. Noah Dobson 48 (2021-22)

        Bryan Berard 48 (1996-97)

        Tomas Jonsson 48 (1982-83)

Most Points by an Islander Defenseman (Since 1994-95)

1. Mark Streit 56 (2008-09)

2. Mark Streit 49 (2009-10)

3. Noah Dobson 48 (2021-22)

4. Bryan Berard 48 (1996-97)

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).

Best Save Percentage, Season (Isles History)

1. Robin Lehner .930 (2018-19)

2. Semyon Varlamov .929 (2020-21)

3. Chico Resch .928 (1975-76)

4. Ilya Sorokin .927 (2021-22)

Thomas Greiss .927 (2018-19)

Best Save Percentage, This Season (NHL)

1. Igor Shesterkin .935

2. Ilya Sorokin .927

PK is More Than Okay

The Isles killed all four Capital power plays and scored a shorthanded goal; they have killed 44 of 50 (88.0%) over their last sixteen games and 83 of 95 in the last 30 games (87.4%).  At home the Isles have killed 41 of 47 (87.2%) since the beginning of February.

And How About That Home PP?

Since the beginning of February, the Isles home PP has converted at a 34.1% rate (15-44).  Only Tampa Bay (36.4%) and Florida (34.2%) have 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 128 in 41 games since the break (3.1gm).  

Forwards:

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

After:  109-135-244 in 41 games (6.0/gm)

Defense:

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

After:    19-76-95 in 41 games (2.3/gm)

Most Career Goals by an Islander Wearing #27

• Derek King 211

      Anders Lee 211

• 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 36-34-10 overall; they are 19-15-5 at home and 17-19-5 on the road.

Washington is 44-24-12 overall; they are 19-6-6 at home and 25-8-6 on the road.

Home is Where the Fans Are

The Isles have played 39 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 913-670-60-167 in 1,810 games.

Most Coaching Wins

1. Scotty Bowman  1,244

2. Joel Quenneville  970

3. Barry Trotz    913

Most Games Coached

1. Scotty Bowman  2,141

2. Barry Trotz        1,810

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

2. Lou Lamoriello 1,362

3. Glen Sather 1,319

It All Starts at the Top

Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have 2,275 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 8-25-4 when allowing the opening goal. 

The Shots

Isles    13-5-8=26

Washington       10-9-14=33

The Isles are 12-8-4 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-2-1 when the shots are even and 23-24-5 when they are outshot. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 89-60-18 when outshot.

In the Nets

Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves; he is 26-17-8 on the season and 1-2-0 vs  Washington.

Ilya Samsonov made 22 saves; he is 23-11-5 on the season and 5-3-0 vs. the Isles. 

Special Teams

The Isles were 2-2 on the power play (2:59);  Washington was 0-4 on the power play (8:00), allowing a power play goal.

The Isles are 19-11-6 when they score at least one power play goal and 17-23-4 when they do not. The Isles are 7-16-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 29-18-5 when they do not.

Three is a Magic Number

The Isles are 31-11-4 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 5-23-6 when they do not. Under Barry Trotz, the Isles are 118-20-15 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 1-8 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 6-10-1 in the back end. 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 27-14-5 in back-ends. 

Matinee Isles

The Isles went 4-6-3 in matinees this season. 

Ice-time Leaders

Isles: Mathew Barzal (24:05);  Washington: John Carlson (22:23)

Mathew Barzal led Isles forwards with 24:05 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 (1-1-1), 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 23, Washington 25 (48%)

Jean-Gabriel Pageau won 14 of 23 for the Isles; Nicklas Backstrom won 9 of 13 for Washington.

Hit Count

Isles 18 (Jean-Gabriel Pageau -6)

Washington 21 (Martin Fehevary -5)

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 17 (Andy Greene -5)

Washington 12 (Garnet Hathaway -3)

For the Analytics Crowd 

Corsi: All situations: Isles 50, Washington 65

Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 38, Washington 54

5-on-5 leaders:

Isles: Ryan Pulock +7

Washington: Marcus Johansson +14

High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)

All situations: Isles 11, Washington 8

5-on-5: Isles 7, Washington 6

Scratches

(Cal Clutterbuck-INJ), (Scott Mayfield-INJ), (Anthony Beauvillier-INJ), (Brock Nelson -ILL), (Zdeno Chara-ILL)

Games Lost: 187 (135 to injuries and 52 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: 6 successful, 1 failure

The Isles are 3-2-1 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, goalie interference 4/26 vs WSH) 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 991…

9. Brent Sutter 694 *** 10. Matt Martin 683 *** 11. Brock Nelson 674 *** 12. John Tavares 669 *** 13. Casey Cizikas 661 … 

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

Goals    

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

9. Bobby Nystrom 235 *** 10. Derek King and Anders Lee 211 *** 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 378…

17. Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo 230 *** 19. Mathew Barzal 217 *** 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 552 *** 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 364…

22. Ziggy Palffy 331 *** 23. Mathew Barzal 307

+/-

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

19. JP Parise +67 *** 20. Adam Pelech +61 *** 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 286

 

Coaching Wins

1. Al Arbour 740 *** 2. Jack Capuano 227 *** 3. Barry Trotz 151

On the Farm

Bridgeport is headed to the Calder Cup Playoffs!  The Isles went 10-5-2-0 in their last seventeen games and finished the regular season with a record of 31-30-7-4. 

Chris Terry led the team with 30 goals and 61 points while Otto Koivula has a team-leading 35 helpers. Jakub Skurek went 16-15-4 in goal on the season while Cory Schneider is 14-11-4.

Bridgeport is off for a week before beginning the playoffs. They will be the 6th seed in their division and face either Providence or Springfield in a best-of-3 first round series.

Season Series Stats

Washington leads the season series, 2 games to 1 (and 4 points to 3).  The teams will conclude the home-and-home, and the season series, on Thursday.

The Isles are 3-6-2 in their last 11 games against the Caps.

UP NEXT

THURSDAY, APRIL 28th  –WASHINGTON AT ISLANDERS 7:00 PM 

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

The Isles return home to end the season with the final set of back-to-backs as they will host Washington on Thursday and Tampa Bay on Friday. 

The Isles are 2-2-1 in their last five games against Washington at home; the Caps blanked the Isles 2-0 on January 15th in the only previous meeting at UBS Arena.

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