Isles Continue to Strengthen Identity in Playoffs

The New York Islanders have a blueprint for how to win playoff hockey games. Ten games into the postseason, including consecutive 4-0 wins in their last two, they appear to have bought into the team first mentality.
"We know the way that we have to play in order to have success," Jordan Eberle said on Tuesday. "When we stick to it we generally do."

It starts by taking care of their own end, as the Isles are the NHL's best defensive team, averaging 1.50 goals-against-per-game through 10 playoff contests. That's not inflated by a pair of shutouts over the past two games, as the Isles haven't allowed more than three goals in a game this summer and even that's only happened twice.
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It's a testament to the team's defensive structure, instituted by the entire coaching staff in the 2018-19 season and refined over the past two years. It's predicated on assignments, predictability and commitment, and the Isles have certainly had plenty of the latter, laying out for an 18.96 blocks/60, tops among teams that made it to the 16-team playoff.
"I wouldn't say it's easy, it takes a lot of work," Eberle said. "If you're going to do it right, you have to put the work in. It's just getting everyone on the same page. There's no unpredictably in our game. When we're at our best everyone knows what they're supposed to do and where they're supposed to be. It's just the sign of a good team. As long as we're working hard and doing the right things and being predictable, it makes it easier on every one of us when we're playing like that."
The Isles holstered a pair of gunslingers in Florida and Washington, holding the second-and-sixth-ranked offenses to six total five-on-five goals in nine games. They didn't just do that by packing the house and limiting time and space in high-danger areas, but by relentless forechecking and pinning teams in their own end.
They held the Panthers to multiple 10+ minute stretches without a shot in the Qualifying Series and the Capitals without a shot in the final 12 minutes of First Round clinching Game 5. In Game 1 vs Philly, the Isles held Flyers forwards without a shot for a 13:53 stretch in the second half of the first period and into the second. There's no accusing the Isles of being a defense-only team either, not when they're averaging 3.40 goals-per-game, third among teams that qualified for the 16-team playoffs.
The scoring has been balanced as well and that was evident in Game 1 vs Philadelphia. The Brock Nelson line was on the ice for Andy Greene's eventual game-winner, the JG Pageau line turned a hard forecheck into a 2-0 lead and the Mathew Barzal line all connected for Anders Lee's 3-0 tally. The Isles have preached how they're not dependent on one line to carry them offensively and so far through the playoffs, 13 players have goals and 19 have points.

Josh Bailey called the Isles' style of play "contagious," after Game 5 vs Washington, a testament to how well the coaching staff has gotten his team to buy-in to their philosophy over the past two seasons. To Head Coach Barry Trotz, the results keep reaffirming the process.
"Every time you win a game in the regular season or playoffs it helps with your buy-in, understanding how you play and how you're successful, where your strengths are," Trotz said during the Capitals series. "Sometimes the best teacher is your results."
The Isles beat the Flyers 4-0 in Game 1, but as a coaching staff, they were not overly pleased with their team's game outside of the first period. The opening frame showcased how the Islanders needed to play, which involved a 1-0 lead, a 15-4 shot advantage and pressuring the Flyers into eight giveaways. In the second, the Isles were outshot 15-7, and didn't put any rubber onto Carter Hart until the 8:18 mark. Semyon Varlamov stepped up when his team needed him with timely saves, as well as play stoppages.
If there was a positive to be drawn, it was how the Isles didn't get flustered by the Flyers flurry and reset going into the third period. The coaching staff has worked to make sure the group is comfortable in uncomfortable situations, whether that's withstanding a siege, chipping away if they're behind - like they did against Washington in Game 1 - or protecting a one-goal lead.

"When you're comfortable in the way you play and understand how you have to play, it gives you a comfort level," Trotz said. "Early (?) In my tenure here, we weren't very comfortable with a lead or when games were tight. That's changed over the course of time because we understand how we have to play and what's acceptable and what's not acceptable in tight games. Just the game management, the understanding and the buy-in to do what's necessary has been the biggest change."
If there's one place the Isles aren't getting comfortable, it's after a Game 1 win in the second round of the playoffs. The Isles have played it cool after wins and losses alike and understand there's a long way to go in the series and beyond.
As always, the Isles will look inward, focus on their game and trust that their process can continue to lead them to success.
"We're a confident group," Brock Nelson said. "And believe that we can make a run and play with anybody."