The Skinny: Game 43 - Isles 3, Dallas 0

Game 43Isles 3, Dallas 0
In Doug Weight's head coaching debut, John Tavares scored 2 goals and Thomas Greiss made 23 saves to become the first Islander goalkeeper to earn back-to-back shutouts since 2014 as the Isles blanked the Dallas Stars 3-0 before a crowd of 12,630 at Barclays Center.
Tavares' second goal came with the Isles shorthanded, and was his first career shorthanded goal. The Isles have scored shorthanded goals in consecutive games for the first time since November 28 - December 1, 2014.

The Scoring1ST PERIOD
13:31 New York John Tavares (17) ASST: Anders Lee (7) 1-0
2ND PERIOD
No Scoring
3RD PERIOD
16:54 New York SHG - John Tavares (18) ASST: Nikolay Kulemin (7) 2-0
19:56 New York EN - Calvin de Haan (3) ASST: Thomas Greiss (1) 3-0
The Skinny
Thomas Greiss recorded his 2nd consecutive shutout, his 3rd shutout as an Islander, and his 6th career shutout…He has stopped 55 consecutive shots to earn the two shutouts. The Isles have not allowed a goal in 126:07, while Greiss has not allowed a goal in 120:00. …The Isles scored the first goal for the 19th time in the last 24 games… The Isles are 14-0-3 when leading after two periods while Dallas is winless (0-16-2) when trailing after 40 minutes.… The Isles went over NHL-.500 (18-17-8) and climbed within 6 points of the last playoff spot; it's only the second time that the Isles have been over NHL-.500 this season (11-10-5 after beating St. Louis on December 8th)…Dennis Seidenberg went +2 and is now +19; Cizikas went +1 and is now +12. John Tavares went +3 for the second time in four games… The Isles had three previous shutouts vs. the Stars franchise, including Rick DiPietro's 3-0 win on November 15, 2016. The other two shutouts came against the Minnesota North Stars in the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons…The Isles recorded at least 7 power plays for the first time since having 8 vs. Columbus on January 12, 2016…The Isles outshot Dallas 36-23; the +13 differential matched a season high while the 23 shots against matched a season low against the Isles…John Tavares recorded his 3rd multi-goal game in the last 7 days; he has 7 goals in the last 4 games…Thomas Greiss recorded his 2nd career assist, both with the Isles, on the empty-net goal; it's the first assist by an Islander goalie since Halak had one on November 5, 2015 in Montreal…John Tavares recorded his 37th career game-winning goal, but his first since February 7, 2016 vs.Edmonton (regular season stats only)…The Isles' top line combined for 16 shots on goal: 7 at even strength, 7 on the power play, and 2 (by Tavares) shorthanded.
Milestone Man
Josh Bailey played in his 600th NHL game. He is one of two current Islanders (John Tavares) to play under Doug Weight both as a Captain and a head coach.
Good Start for Coach Weight
The Isles improve to 5-4-0 in their first game after a midseason coaching change, including 2-2-0 at home. This is the first time the Isles have ever recorded a shutout in their first game following a coaching change.
Earl Ingarfeld 1/31/1973 L 5-3 @ Toronto (replaced Phil Goyette)
Al Arbour II 12/9/1989 L 6-5 @ New Jersey (replaced Terry Simpson)
Rick Bowness 1/24/1997 W 5-2 @ Hartford (replaced Mike Milbury)
Mike Milbury II 3/12/1998 L 2-1 Washington (replaced Rick Bowness)
Bill Stewart 1/21/1999 W 5-2 @ Pittsburgh (replaced Mike Milbury)
Lorne Henning II 3/4/2001 W 5-2 @ New York Rangers (replaced Butch Goring)
Brad Shaw 1/12/2006 W 3-2 vs. Calgary (replaced Steve Stirling)
Jack Capuano 11/17/2010 L 4-2 vs. Tampa Bay (replaced Scott Gordon)
Doug Weight 1/19/2017 W 3-0 vs. Dallas (replaced Jack Capuano)
Countdown to 1,000
Jason Chimera played in his 994th NHL game. 306 skaters and two goalies have played 1000 NHL games.
#1 is #1 (aka The Greiss is Right)
Thomas Greiss started his 8th straight game (4-2-2 with a 1.99 GAA and a 93.6 save percentage) and 10th in the last 12 games (6-2-2 with a 1.89 GAA and a 94.2 save percentage). In the eight straight games that he has started he has allowed only 16 goals, and 7 of those came in one games. He has allowed two goals or less in 9 of his last 10 games.
The geniuses at the Elias Sports Bureau note that Greiss is the first German-born netminder to record consecutive shutouts. (Philippe Grubauer is the only other German-born goalie with a career shutout; he has two, including a shutout in his most recent start)
Last Minute Heroes
The Isles have scored twice in the final minute of regulation to either tie or win a game:
Fit to Be Tied
The Isles have allowed the final goal of regulation in nine of their 11 games that have gone to overtime this season, including three in the final minute:
Late Losses
The Isles have been tied in the third period in 11 of their 17 regulation losses (and 19 of their 25 overall losses) but have allowed the lead goal in the final 3 minutes of regulation five times:
Last Long Homestand
The Isles are ending January by playing six straight home games. The Isles are 1-0-0 in this stretch.
1/19 vs Stars (W 3-0)
1/21 vs. Kings
1/22 vs. Flyers
1/24 vs. Blue Jackets
1/26 vs. Canadiens
1/31 vs. Capitals
Following this homestand, the Isles will play 22 of their final 34 on the road and will not have a homestand longer than two games.
The Shots
Isles 10-16-10=36
Dallas 10-5-8=23
The Isles are 9-4-3 when they outshoot their opponents and 1-2-0 when the shots are even but are 8-11-5 when they are outshot.
Home and Road
The Islanders are 18-17-8 overall; 12-8-4 at home and 6-9-4 on the road.
Dallas is 19-20-8 overall; 12-7-4 at home and 7-13-4 on the road.
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 4-6-2 in Division games and 14-11-6 in games versus other divisions (5-6-3 vs. Atlantic, 4-2-1 vs. Central and 5-3-2 vs. Pacific). The Isles are 9-12-5 against the East and 9-5-3 against the West.
In the Nets
Thomas Greiss made 23 saves as he recorded his second straight shutout. Greiss is 12-7-2 on the season and 4-1-0 in his career against Dallas.
Kari Lehtonen made 33 saves but falls to 9-13-4 on the season and 7-6-1 in his career against the Isles.
Power Plays
The Isles went 0-7 on the power play, while Dallas went 0-3, and allowed the Isles a shorthanded goal. While they did score, the Isles had 18 shots on goal in 12:47 of power play time.
The Isles are 6-5-5 when they score at least one power play goal and 12-12-3 when they do not. The Isles are 5-9-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 13-8-3 when they do not.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 17-4-2 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 1-13-6 when they do not.
One Goal Games
The Isles are 6-6-8 in games decided by a single goal including 3-6-0 in regulation. They are 2-5 in games decided in overtime and are 1-3 in shootouts. The Isles are 1-1 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game.
First Goal
The Isles are 14-4-6 when they score first and are 4-12-3 when they allow the opening goal.
Back-to-Backs
The Isles are 3-3-1 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 2-3-2 on the back-end.
The Isles will play 16 sets of back-to-backs this season. The next back-to-back set is January 21st vs Los Angeles and January 22nd vs. Philadelphia, both at home
Tired vs. Rested
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Dennis Seidenberg (season high 26:41); Dallas: Esa Lindell (22:56)
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Travis Hamonic (5-0-0), Nick Leddy (9-13-6), John Tavares (2-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (1-3-1), Dennis Seidenberg (1-0-1)
John Tavares led the Isles forwards with 24:17 of ice-time. Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (12-9-6), Josh Bailey (4-5-2), Casey Cizikas (1-0-0), Cal Clutterbuck (0-1-0), Brock Nelson (1-2-0)
Face-offs
Isles 27, Dallas 26 (51%).
John Tavares won 14 of 21 for the Isles; Radek Faska won 8 of 14 for Dallas.
The Isles won 7 of 13 draws in the first period, and split 40 draws in the other two periods.
The Isles won 15 of 35 draws at even strength, 8 of 13 on the power play and 4 of 5 on the penalty kill.
Hit Count
Isles 21, Dallas 14. Stephen Gionta led the Isles with four hits; John Klingberg led Dallas with three.
Fights
Thomas Hickey fought Radek Faska. According to hockeyfights.com, it was the first fight of Hickey's NHL career. Season total - 8: (Boychuk 1, deHaan 1, Hamonic 3, Mayfield 1, Hickey 1, Strome 1).
Blocked Shots
The Isles were credited with 18 blocked shots, including four from Nikolay Kulemin.
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 59, Dallas 51
5-on-5 Isles 31, Dallas 36
5-on-5 leaders
Isles: Nick Leddy & Anders Lee +10; Anders Lee 78%
Dallas: Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn +8
Ironmen
Jason Chimera - 149 (including 106 for the Capitals); Josh Bailey 110
Scratches
Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ladd (injured), Cal Clutterbuck (injured)
Injured Reserve: Travis Hamonic
Total games lost: 73
All-time Islander Leader Boards:Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1123 \\* 2. Denis Potvin 1060 \\* 3. Bob Nystrom 900
…
12. Frans Nielsen 606 \\* 13. Josh Bailey 600 \\* Kenny Jonsson 597 \\* 15. Garry Howatt 596 \\* 16. John Tonelli 594 \\* 17. John Tavares 553
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 \\* 2. Bryan Trottier 500 \\* 3. Denis Potvin 310
…
7. Bob Bourne 238 \\* 8. Bob Nystrom 235 \\\\ 9. John Tavares 225
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 \\* 2. Denis Potvin 742 \\* 3. Mike Bossy 553
…
9. Bob Bourne 304 \\* 10. Derek King 288 \\* 11. John Tavares 280
…
18. Pierre Turgeon 193 \\* 19. Ed Westfall 181 \\* 20. Josh Bailey 180
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1353 \\* 2. Mike Bossy 1126 \\* 3. Denis Potvin 1052
…
8. Bob Bourne 542 \\* 9. Bobby Nystrom 513 \\* 10. John Tavares 505
…
21. Duane Sutter 292 \\* 22. Alexei Yashin 290 \\* 23. Ed Westfall 286 \\* 24 Josh Bailey 279
Season Series Stats
The Isles lead the season series one game to none (and two points to none). The final meeting of the season will be March 2nd in Dallas.
The Isles have won four straight home games against Dallas and have scored 23 goals in the four games.
On The Farm
The Sound Tigers are 19-15-1-1 this season.
Bracken Kearns continues to lead the Sound Tigers in points (13-15-28) and is tied with Steve Bernier for the club lead in goals (13). Rookie Devon Toews leads the team with 20 assists and is second on the team in points (4-20-24).
The Sound Tigers begin another 3-in-3 weekend on Friday in Springfield before hosting Toronto on Saturday and Rochester on Sunday afternoon.
Up NextSATURDAY, JANUARY 21st -LOS ANGELES AT ISLANDERS - 7:00PM[MSG+ (Isles pre-game at 6:30), WFAN 660/101.9FM, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN]
The Isles will look to tie a franchise record with their third straight shutout and give Doug Weight a happy 46th birthday as they entertain the Los Angeles Kings in the front-end of a back-to-back set. No Islander goal has ever recorded three consecutive shutouts, which will also be in play the next time Thomas Greiss starts a game.
It's the 2nd and final meeting of the season between the teams; back on Thanksgiving Eve Anders Lee jump-started his season with a pair of third period goals but the Isles allowed three goals in a 44 second span to fall 4-2 to the Kings.
The Isles have lost 5 of their last 7 games to Los Angeles (2-5-0); in 22 games dating back to 2000, the Isles have scored only 38 goals, going 6-14-2 in that span.
The Kings are in New Jersey Friday before facing the Islanders on Saturday.