"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 71
New Jersey 4, Isles 0
Timo Meier had a Gordie Howe hat trick, all in the second period, as the New Jersey Devils scored three times in the middle session and defeated the Islanders 4-0 before a sellout crowd of 17,255 at UBS Arena.
Ilya Sorokin dropped to 0-6-0 in his last six decisions; he has allowed three goals in a period in his last five starts. The Isles are 11-11-4 under Patrick Roy and 30-26-15 overall as they fall four points behind Washington in the Wild Card race and remained six points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan.
The Isles have three days off before playing the Florida Panthers on Thursday in Sunrise.
The Scoring:
1st Period
None
2nd Period
Timo Meier (23) Jack Hughes (45), Luke Hughes (31) 00:38 NJD 1,NYI 0 PPG
Jack Hughes (24) Timo Meier (20), Jesper Bratt (46) 02:57 NJD 2,NYI 0
Alexander Holtz (16) Simon Nemec (16) 06:12 NJD 3,NYI 0
3rd Period
Chris Tierney (3)EN Erik Haula (19), Kevin Bahl (10) 15:53 NJD 4,NYI 0
The Skinny
The Isles are 10-9-3 since the All-Star Break … Since Christmas, the Isles are 7-7-4 at home and 7-11-2 on the road… The Isles' defense has 57 points under Patrick Roy (11-46-57) and have 47 points in the last 21 games (10-37-47)…The Isles have outscored their opponents 62-42 in the first period (fewest allowed in NHL), but have been outscored 99-73 in the second period (most allowed in NHL); the 57 goal difference would be the highest between any two period in club history (56 in 1984-85, 41 in 1995-96)… The Isles have been outscored 93-76 in the third period and overtime this season, but that reflects a 19-2 difference in empty-net goals…The Isles have been outscored 61-34 in the second period since the Christmas break and have allowed at least two goals in 20 of the 38 games; the goals allowed are the most in the NHL over that span …The Isles are 8-22-5 when they allow the first goal …Mathew Barzal is 22-51-73; he has tied career high in goals and his assist and point totals are the highest since his rookie season (22-63-85 in 2017-18)....Over the last fourteen games, the Isles outscored their opponents 36-14 in their last seven during their six-game winning streak but have been outscored 30-9 in the other seven (0-6-1) games… Kyle Palmieri's home goal streak ended at five games…The Isles are 0-8-3 in their last eleven back-ends, including 0-6-3 this season…Timo Meier has an NHL-leading twelve goals in March, giving him 23 on the season…Anders Lee was assessed his first career game misconduct… Jack and Luke Hughes assisted on the same goal for the sixth time this season… The Isles have been shut-out seven times this season, all in the last 52 games…Since scoring six times in the first 35:32 on Saturday, the Isles have been outscored 6-0 in the last 84:28…Jack Hughes played his 300th NHL game…Kaapo Kahkonen beat the Isles for the second time this season; he earned the win in December with San Jose.
First Times in a Long Time
• Anders Lee is the first Islander to receive 20 penalty minutes in either a game or a period since Ross Johnston had 27 on March 16, 2018, vs. Washington (2nd period).
• It is the first time since 2011-12 (ten times) that the Isles have been shut-out at least seven times.
• The Isles have allowed 99 goals in the second period; it is the most goals they have allowed in any period since the second period in 2017-18 (108).
• The Devils shut out the Isles in New York for the first time since February 3, 2013.
Playoff Chase
Metro Division
3rd Philadelphia 81 points in 72 games (Thursday at Montreal)
4th Washington 79 points in 70 games (Tuesday vs. Detroit, Thursday at Toronto)
5th Isles 75 points in 71 games (Thursday at Florida)
Wild Card
1st WC Tampa Bay 83 points in 70 games (Sunday LATE at Anaheim, Wednesday vs. Boston)
2nd WC Washington 79 points in 70 games (Tuesday vs. Detroit, Thursday at Toronto)
3rd Detroit 78 points in 71 games (Tuesday at Washington, Thursday at Carolina)
4th Isles 75 points in 71 games (Thursday at Florida)
5th New Jersey 74 points in 71 games (Tuesday at Toronto, Friday at Buffalo)
6th Buffalo 71 points in 71 games (Sunday LATE at Calgary, Wednesday vs. Ottawa, Friday vs. New Jersey)
7th Pittsburgh 70 points in 70 games (Tuesday vs. Carolina, Thursday vs. Columbus)
Milestone Men
• Ilya Sorokin played his 188th game, passing Tommy Salo for 6th place in club goalie history.
• Brock Nelson has 270 goals, two behind John Tavares for 7th in club history.
• Brock Nelson is one goal away from his third consecutive 30-goal season, a feat last accomplished for the Islanders by Matt Moulson.
• Mathew Barzal has tied his career high in goals (22)
• Bo Horvat now has 499 career points.
• Bo Horvat has tied his career high in assists (34)
• Mike Reilly now has 99 career assists.
• Cal Clutterbuck has 3,997 hits as he looks to become the first NHL player with 4,000 career hits.
• You are reading the 998th consecutive edition of The Skinny.
Mr. Consistency
Mathew Barzal has had five separate point streaks of at least five games this season, including an 8-game and a 7-game streak.
Woah Noah
Noah Dobson is the first Islander defenseman with at least 65 points since 1984-85 when Denis Potvin had 68, and the first with at least 57 assists since 1983-84, when Potvin recorded 63.
Dobson has recorded only the fifth season in club history with at least 57 assists by a defenseman:
1. Denis Potvin 70 (1978-79)
2. Denis Potvin 67 (1975-76)
3. Denis Potvin 64 (1977-78)
4. Denis Potvin 63 (1983-84)
5. Noah Dobson 57 (2023-24)
Dobson is now tied-24th overall for assists in a season by an Islander.
Most assists (Islanders, last 35 years)
1. Pierre Turgeon 74 in 1992-93
2. Mathew Barzal 63 in 2017-18
3. Noah Dobson 57 in 2023-24
Career Year?
Bo Horvat is 29-34-63 on the season. His 29 goals trail only 2022-23 (38) and 2021-22 (31) while his 63 points are his 2nd- highest total behind last season's 70. Horvat has tied his career-high of 34 assists which he set in 2018-19.
Coach Roy
The Isles are 11-11-4 under Patrick Roy and have allowed only two goals or fewer in eight of their eleven wins. Ilya Sorokin is 9-8-2 under Roy while Semyon Varlamov is 2-3-2.
Scoring Leaders Under Patrick Roy
1. Mathew Barzal 10-17-27
2. Brock Nelson 9-15-24
3. Bo Horvat 11-10-21 (4 GWG)
4. Noah Dobson 2-18-20
5. Kyle Palmieri 12-5-17
Since the Break
The Isles are 10-9-3 since the all-star break. While they were outshot 34.9-30.0 per game (-4.9) prior to the break, the Isles have out-shot their opponents 30.8-28.6 (+2.2) since the break.
Overtime is Our Time
The Isles have played 23 overtime games, one behind Boston for the NHL lead. They are 7-11 in games decided by an overtime goal, and they are 1-4 in shootouts. Ilya Sorokin is 6-7 in overtime and 1-3 in shootouts, while Semyon Varlamov is 1-4 in overtime and 0-1 in shootouts.
The NHL record for overtime games is 30, played by Boston in 2003-04. The Isles are on pace to play 26 overtime games.
The Isles have won 18 of the last 46 games decided by an overtime goal (since January 11, 2020).
Most Islander OT/SO Losses
• 15 (2023-24; CURRENT)
• 13 (2010-11)
Most OT/SO Losses in a Season (Isles Goalie)
1. Ilya Sorokin 11 (2023-24; CURRENT)
2. Rick DiPietro 9 (2006-07)
3. Ilya Sorokin 8 (2022-23)
Evgeni Nabokov 8 (2013-14)
Most Career OT/SO Losses (Isles Goalie)
• Ilya Sorokin 29 (CURRENT)
• Rick DiPietro 28
Empty Netters
The Isles have scored 2 empty-net goals and allowed 19.
Most Empty-Net Goals Allowed (Isles):
1. 19 2023-24 CURRENT
2. 18 2021-22
3. 17 2022-23
4. 14 2011-12
Killing Their Own PP
The Isles have taken a penalty to interrupt their power play 21 times this season.
Power Play Up; Penalty Killing Down
The Isles have scored 42 power play goals; they scored 35 all last season.
The Isles have allowed 56 power play goals; they allowed 39 all last season.
Under Patrick Roy, the Isles Power Play is 14-78 (17.9%) and the Penalty Kill is 20-66 (69.7%).
Building on a Lead
The Islanders have had a two-goal lead 49 times this season:
• Score the next goal: 14 times
• Allowed the next goal: 31 times
• Game ended with 2-goal difference: 4 times
Heavy Hitters
Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin are 1-2 all-time in hits:
1. Cal Clutterbuck 3,997
2. Matt Martin 3,836
Martin (7) and Clutterbuck (3) have combined for the 10-biggest hits seasons in Isles history in the Real-Time era, which began in 2005-06.
The 25-Goal Club
Brock Nelson is the 8th player in club history to have at least six seasons of at least 25 goals:
• Bryan Trottier 12
• Mike Bossy 10
• John Tavares/ Clark Gillies 7
• Pat LaFontaine/ Brent Sutter/ Anders Lee/ Brock Nelson 6
Last Year vs. This Year
• 2023-24 30-26-15 for 75 points in 71 games
• 2022-23 36-27-8 for 80 points in 71 games
Offense from Defense
• Today: 0-0-0
• Season: 28-116-144
• Last Season (Final) 41-132-173
The Islander defense scored 41 goals last season, which was the most since they scored 42 in 2003-04. The 173 points were their most since 1993-94, when they had 174 points in an 84-game season.
Lots of Work for Sorokin
Most shots against:
• Ilya Sorokin 1,688
• Juuse Saros 1,585
• Alexandar Georgiev 1,582
• Connor Hellebuyck 1,543
• Jordan Binnington 1,542
No goalie has ever played the full season for the Islanders and led the NHL in this category; Kelly Hrudey led the NHL in 1988-89; he was traded at the deadline to Los Angeles.
Facing 40
Ilya Sorokin has faced at least forty shots ten times this season and 27 times in his career.
Most Games, 40+ Shots in a Season vs Isles Goalie
1. Jaroslav Halak 11 2017-18
2. Gerry Desjardins 10 1972-73
Ilya Sorokin 10 2023-24
No other NHL goalie has faced 40+ shots more than six times this season.
Most games, 40+ Shots (Since 2021-22)
1. John Gibson 34
2. Ilya Sorokin 27
3. Darcy Kuemper 23
4. Sam Montembault 21
Karel Vejmelka 21
Most Games, 40+ Shots (Islander History)
1. Billy Smith 46 (674 games)
2. Kelly Hrudey 27 (241 games)
Ilya Sorokin 27 (187 games)
Sorokin has made at least 40 saves six times this season and a franchise-record 16 times in his career.
Varly, Varly
Semyon Varlamov has 40 career shutouts and 280 career wins. Among active NHL goalies (and excluding Carey Price, who is technically still active), Varlamov is seventh in wins and fourth in shutouts.
All-time Goalie Wins
50. Tiny Thompson 284
51. Semyon Varlamov 280
52. Brian Elliott 279
Home and Road
The Isles are 30-26-15 overall; they are 16-10-10 at home and 14-16-5 on the road.
New Jersey is 35-33-4 overall; they are 17-18-2 at home and 18-15-2 on the road.
East and West
The Isles are 18-14-9 against the East (8-7-5 vs. Metropolitan and 10-7-4 vs. Atlantic) and 12-12-6 against the West (6-6-2 vs. Central and 6-6-4 vs. Pacific).
Home is Where the Fans Are
The Isles have played 117 games at UBS Arena and recorded 84 sellouts of 17,255.
Sweet Lou
Lou Lamoriello has the second-highest win total for any general manager in NHL history:
1. David Poile 1,531
2. Lou Lamoriello 1,435
3. Glen Sather 1,319
Leaders of the Pack
Lou Lamoriello (1,435) and Patrick Roy (141) have combined for 1,576 career wins as general manager and coach. That is the highest in the NHL among active combos by a wide margin.
First Things First
The Isles are 22-4-10 when scoring first and are 8-22-5 when allowing the opening goal. Under Patrick Roy, the Isles are 9-1-1 when they score first and are 2-10-3 when they do not.
The Shots
Isles 13-10-13=36
New Jersey 6-17-7=30
The Isles are 12-10-6 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-1-0 when the shots are even and 17-15-9 when the opposition has more shots.
In the Nets
Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves; he is 22-19-11 on the season and 6-5-1 vs. New Jersey.
Kaapo Kahkonen made 36 saves; he is 7-22-3 on the season and 4-1-0 vs the Isles.
Special Teams
The Isles were 0-5 on the power play (8:16, including :02 on a 5-on-3); New Jersey was 1-4 on the power play (7:07), including failing on a :38 5-on-3 and then scoring after :43 of a second 5-on-3).
The Isles are 16-8-9 when they score at least one power play goal and 14-18-6 when they do not. The Isles are 11-17-10 when they allow at least one power play goal and 19-9-5 when they do not.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 28-5-11 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 2-21-4 when they do not.
One-Goal Games
The Isles are 16-3-15 in games decided by a single goal including 8-3 in regulation. They are 7-11 in games decided in overtime and are 1-4 in shootouts. The Isles are 2-6 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.
Back-to-Backs
Including today, the Isles are 4-1-4 in the front end and 0-6-3 in the back end this season. The final back-to-back set will be on April 1st in Philadelphia and April 2nd vs. Chicago.
Fewest Wins on Back-end:
0 1972-73 (0-22-3)
0 2023-24 (0-6-3)
1 2012-13 (1-5-1; 48-game schedule)
2 1994-95 (2-3-3; 48-game schedule)
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Noah Dobson (25:37); New Jersey: John Marino (22:42)
Brock Nelson led Islander forwards with 21:56 of ice-time.
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Ryan Pulock (5-2-2), Noah Dobson (22-21-9), Alex Romanov (2-2-0), Adam Pelech (0-0-2), Matthew Barzal (0-1-1), Bo Horvat (1-0-0).
Face-offs
Isles 25, New Jersey 32 (44%)
Kyle MacLean won 6 of 10 for the Isles; Tomas Nosek won 8 of 11 for New Jersey.
Hit Count
Isles 20 (Cal Clutterbuck -5)
New Jersey 13 (Kevin Bahl -4)
Fights
Anders Lee fought Timo Meier in the second period. Season total: 11 (Martin 4, Lee 3, Pelech 1, Mayfield 1, Horvat 1, MacLean 1)
Blocked Shots
Isles 24 (Alexander Romanov -6)
New Jersey 15 (Nick Desimone -4)
For the Analytics Crowd
Corsi: All situations: Isles 71, New Jersey 65
Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 47, New Jersey 45
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Simon Holmstrom +9
New Jersey: Luke Hughes +9
High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)
All situations: Isles 15, New Jersey 7
5-on-5: Isles 11, New Jersey 3
Scratches
(Scott Mayfield – LTIR), Sebastian Aho, Oliver Wahlstrom, Matt Martin, Samuel Bolduc
Games Lost to injury: 167
The Ironmen
Anders Lee is the Islanders' ironman, having played 183 consecutive games. Brock Nelson (155), Kyle Palmieri (105), and Noah Dobson (101) are the only other Islanders to have played at least 100 consecutive games. Two other Islanders (Cal Clutterbuck, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau) have played every game this season.
Most Overtime Goals, Season (Islanders)
1. John Tavares 4 (2014-15)
2. Bo Horvat 3 (2023-24)
Brock Nelson 3 (2019-20)
John Tavares 3 (2010-11)
Most Overtime Assists, Career (Islanders)
1. Mathew Barzal 15
2. John Tavares 12
Most Overtime Points, Career (Islanders)
1. John Tavares 23
2. Mathew Barzal 20
Barzal has a point on 20 of the 37 overtime goals that the Isles have scored since he became a regular in 2016-17.
National TV Games
The Isles are 5-2-3 in games that air on one of the NHL's US national broadcast partners. The next nationally televised game will be on April 13 (ABC) at the Rangers.
Matinee Isles
The Isles are 1-4-1 in matinee games (all at home, including an OT loss at Met Life). The final matinee game is April 13th at NYR.
The NHL considers games that start before 5:00 local time to be afternoon games. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Isles are 13-13-9 in matinees.
Challenges
Isles: 2 successful, 4 failures – WSH goalie interference (11/2), OTT offside (11/24), LA no goalie interference (12/9), VGK no goalie interference (1/6), PIT no hand pass (2/20) , BUF no goalie interference (3/14)
Opponents: 3 successful, 2 failures – BUF no offsides (10/21), CAR no high-stick (11/30); ANA goalie interference (12/13), CGY offside (2/10), TB offside (2/24)
Quickies
The Isles have scored two goals in under a minute seven times this season (four times at home – CBJ 12/7 x2, WSH 12/29, NYR 2/18-MetLife and three time on road-@OTT 11/24, @ARI 1/4, @SJ 3/7) and allowed two in the same span eight times (COL 10/25 x2, MIN 11/8, @MTL 12/16, PIT 12/27, @NAS 1/13, @PIT 2/20, @STL 2/22 (3 in :32))
Multi-Goal 3rd Period Comeback Wins
The Isles have come from at least two goals behind in the third period to win one time this season and have allowed the opposition to do so five times.
For (1): LA 12/9 (trailed 0-2, won 3-2 in OT)
Vs (5): DET 10/30 (trailed 0-2, won 4-3 in OT); CAR 11/4 (trailed 1-3, won 4-3 in OT) ; @ NJ 11/28 (trailed 2-4, won 5-4 in regulation); SJ 12/5 (trailed 1-4; won 5-3 in OT); NYR 2/18 (trailed 3-5, won 6-5 in OT)
Last Minute Heroes:
The Isles have scored four goals and have allowed six goals in the final three minutes of the third period to tie or go-ahead:
For (5): Bo Horvat 10/20 vs NJ 18:49 (Isles lost in OT); Simon Holmstrom 12/13 vs ANA 18:27 (GWG); Kyle Palmieri 1/27 vs FLA 18:31 (Isles lost in OT); Pierre Engvall 2/5 @ TOR 17:58 (GWG); Bo Horvat 3/16 vs OTT 19:22 (Isles lost in OT).
Vs (7): Curtis Lazar 11/28 @ NJ 19:37 (GWG); Sebastian Aho 11/30 @ CAR 19:57 (Isles won in OT); Tomas Hertl vs SJ 18:30 (SJ won in OT); Morgan Rielly 12/11 vs TOR 19:53 (Isles won in OT); Alexandre Carrier 1/13 @ NAS 19:52 (GWG); Sean Monahan 1/25 @ MTL 17:48 (GWG); Mika Zibanejad vs NYR – Met Life 18:31 (NYR won in OT)
OT Winners
For (7): Mathew Barzal (vs CAR) 11/30, Jean Gabriel Pageau (vs LA) 12/9, Bo Horvat (vs TOR) 12/11, Mathew Barzal (vs TOR) 1/11, Bo Horvat (vs DAL) 1/21, Adam Pelech (vs PIT) 2/20, Bo Horvat (vs DAL) 2/26
Vs (11): Jack Hughes (NJ) 10/20, Lucas Raymond (DET) 10/30, Sebastian Aho (CAR) 11/4, Quinn Hughes (VAN) 11/15; William Eklund (SJ) 12/5; Dylan Strome (WAS) 12/20; Nathan MacKinnon (COL) 1/2; Seth Jones (CHI) 1/19, Oliver Ekman-Larsson (FLA) 1/27; Artemi Panarin (NYR) 2/18; Brady Tkachuk 3/16
Shootout Winners
For (1): Oliver Wahlstrom (Vs CGY) 11/18
Vs (4): Kailer Yamamoto (SEA) 11/16, Tyson Foerster (PHI) 11/25, David Pastrnak (BOS) 12/15, Tomas Tatar (SEA) 2/13
All-time Islander Leader Boards:
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 1,057…
5. Clark Gillies 872 *** 6. Brock Nelson 829 *** 7. Bob Bourne 814 *** 8. Matt Martin 812 *** 9. Casey Cizikas 804 *** 10. Mike Bossy 752 *** 11. Anders Lee 749 *** Patrick Flatley 712 *** 13. Cal Clutterbuck 707…
32. Rich Pilon and Mick Vukota 509 *** 34. Ed Westfall 493 *** 35. Mathew Barzal 490 *** 36. Adam Pelech 489 *** 37. Radek Martinek 479 **** 38. Gerry Hart 476 *** 39. Ryan Pulock 475 ***40. Mariusz Czerkawski 472 *** 41. Scott Mayfield 469
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 …
5. Pat LaFontaine and Brent Sutter 287 *** 7. John Tavares 272 *** 8. Brock Nelson 270 *** 9. Anders Lee 258 …
20. Kyle Okposo 139 ***21. Jason Blake and Mathew Barzal 127…
29. Ray Ferraro 116 *** 30. Benoit Hogue, Ed Westfall, and Casey Cizikas 105
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 …
9. Brent Sutter 323 *** 10. Stefan Persson 317 *** 11. Mathew Barzal 308…
16. Billy Harris 259 *** 17. Brock Nelson 252…
21. Nick Leddy 198 *** 22. Pierre Turgeon 193 *** 23. Anders Lee 190…
31. David Volek 154 *** 32. Mariusz Czerkawski 150 *** 33. Noah Dobson 147 *** 34. Travis Green 145 *** 35. Steve Thomas 140 *** 36. Mark Streit and Ryan Pulock 139
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1,353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1,126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1,052…
10. Bob Bourne 542 *** 11. Brock Nelson 522 *** 12. Bob Nystrom 513 *** 13. Derek King 499 *** 14. Patrick Flatley 488 *** 15. Anders Lee 448 *** 16. Billy Harris 443 *** 17. Mathew Barzal 435…
31. Nick Leddy 243 *** 32. Casey Cizikas 239
+/-
1. Bryan Trottier +467 *** 2. Denis Potvin +456 *** 3. Mike Bossy +380…
15. Bob Lorimer +105 *** 16. Tomas Jonsson +76 *** 17. Garry Howatt +75 *** 18. Adam Pelech +73 *** 19. Pat Price +70 *** 20. JP Parise +67 *** 21. Jude Drouin +58 *** 22. Patrick Flatley +57 *** 23. Greg Gilbert +54
Defense Goals
1. Denis Potvin 310 *** 2. Tomas Jonsson 84 *** 3. Kenny Jonsson 57…
4. Stefan Persson 52 *** 5. Ryan Pulock 47 *** 6. Jean Potvin 46 *** 7. Nick Leddy 45 *** 8. Roman Hamrlik 43 *** 9. Mark Streit 40 *** 10. Noah Dobson 38
Defense Assists
1. Denis Potvin 742 *** 2. Stefan Persson 317 *** 3. Tomas Jonsson 249…
7. Jeff Norton 166 *** 8. Noah Dobson 148 *** 9. Mark Streit and Ryan Pulock 139…
12. Dave Lewis 117 *** 13. Adam Pelech 111…
20. Dave Langevin and Thomas Hickey 95 *** 22. Scott Mayfield 91
Defense Points
1. Denis Potvin 1,052 *** 2. Stefan Persson 369 *** 3. Tomas Jonsson 333…
6. Jean Potvin 213 *** 7. Jeff Norton 188 *** 8. Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock 186…
13. Dave Lewis 141 *** 14. Adam Pelech 137 *** 15. Tom Kurvers 134 …
19. Vladimir Malakhov 125 *** 20. Thomas Hickey 117 *** 21. Scott Mayfield 116
Goalie Games
1. Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282 …
5. Thomas Greiss 193 *** 6. Ilya Sorokin 188 *** 7. Tommy Salo 187 *** 8. Jaroslav Halak 177 *** 9. Glenn Healy 176 *** 10. Semyon Varlamov 156
Wins
1. Billy Smith 304 *** 2. Glenn Resch 157 *** 3. Rick DiPietro 130…
5. Thomas Greiss 101 *** 6. Ilya Sorokin 92 *** 7. Jaroslav Halak 88 *** 8. Roland Melanson 77 *** 9. Semyon Varlamov 67
Shutouts
1. Glenn Resch 25 *** 2. Billy Smith 22 *** 3. Ilya Sorokin 18 ***
4. Rick DiPietro 16 *** 5. Semyon Varlamov 15
On the Farm
Bridgeport is 22-33-6-1 on the season, heading into home games on Friday and Saturday vs. Charlotte.
Ruslan Iskhakov continues to lead the team in goals (17), assists (27) and points (44).
Season Series Stats
New Jersey leads the season series 3 games to 0 (and 6 points to 1).
It is the first time since 2018 the Devils have won three consecutive games against the Isles.
UP NEXT
THURSDAY, MARCH 28th –ISLANDERS AT FLORIDA– 7:00pm
[MSGSN (Pre-game at 6:30), WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, ESPN Radio]
The Isles begin a three-game road trip as they face the Florida Panthers. Florida could be the number one team in the East by the time they host the Isles; the Panthers are currently tied with Boston for the Atlantic Division lead and trail the Rangers by just one point.
Each of the first two meetings have ended in one-goal wins for the road team, with the Isles winning 4-3 in Sunrise on December 2nd and the Cats earning a 3-2 overtime win at UBS Arena on January 27th. The Isles are 3-3-0 in their last six trips to Sunrise and are 6-4-2 in their last 12 meetings with the Panthers.
AND FINALLY…
You are reading the 998th consecutive edition of The Skinny. I expect to publish the 1,000th consecutive edition after the game in Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since 1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various sources. Follow Eric @ehornick on Twitter & on his blog www.nyiskinny.com