The Skinny: Game 58 - Isles 6, New Jersey 4

Game 58Isles 6, New Jersey 4
Ryan Strome matched a career-high with two goals and also added an assist as the Isles earned a split of their home-and-home series with New Jersey, defeating the Isles 6-4 before a sellout crowd of 15,795 at Barclays Center.
The win extends the Isles home point streak to 11 games; it's the first time since 1982 that the Isles have had a streak longer than 10 games on home ice.
The Islanders improve to 10-4-2 under Interim Coach Doug Weight, including 9-0-2 at Barclays Center.

The Scoring:
1ST PERIOD
09:15 New Jersey PPG - Miles Wood (8) ASST: Taylor Hall (25), Kyle Palmieri (19) 0-1
14:33 New York Ryan Strome (10) ASST: Anthony Beauvillier (9), Dennis Seidenberg (14)1-1
2ND PERIOD
02:44 New York Casey Cizikas (7) ASST: Stephen Gionta (4) 2-1
09:32 New York Ryan Strome (11) 3-1
11:59 New York SHG - Andrew Ladd (16) ASST: Johnny Boychuk (15) 4-1
13:21 New Jersey Kyle Palmieri (16) ASST: Travis Zajac (23), Taylor Hall (26) 4-2
17:55 New Jersey Joseph Blandisi (1) ASST: Steven Santini (4), Stefan Noesen (2) 4-3
3RD PERIOD
00:26 New York PPG - John Tavares (21) ASST: Ryan Strome (14), Anders Lee (14) 5-3
01:00 New York Jason Chimera (15) 6-3
08:37 New Jersey PPG - Taylor Hall (14) ASST: Damon Severson (23), Keith Kinkaid (1) 6-4
The Skinny:
The Isles have allowed the first goal in seven straight games (4-3-0) … Since opening the season 6-10-4, Isles are 21-11-6 in their last 38 games…Andrew Ladd has 14 goals since December 6th, when he scored his 3rd goal of the season (against the Rangers); he is one of only 27 players in the NHL with at least 14 goals in that span… Ladd is 8-2-10 in the last 12 games; Patrick Marleau and Evander Kane are the only players with 9 goals in that span (since January 22nd) … The Isles have alternated wins and losses over the last seven games while the Devils have done so over the last six games…The Isles allowed a power play goal for the fourth straight game and allowed two power play goals for the first time since December 15th…The Isles remain perfect against the metro-area rivals at Barclays Center as they are now 3-0 vs. New Jersey and 4-0 vs. the Rangers…Jason Chimera and John Tavares scored 34 seconds apart in the third period, giving each 10 goals in the last 19 games…Chimera also played in his 164th consecutive game (the equivalent of two complete seasons)…The Isles have won the last home games that they have scored shorthanded…Ryan Strome recorded his first three-point game of the season…The Isles have sold out consecutive home games and five games this season…Joseph Blandisi scored his first NHL goal since February 14, 2016…Ladd's shorthanded goal was the 5th of his career and first as an Islander.
Home is Where the Heart Is
The Isles have earned points in their last 11 home games (9-0-2). It's their longest point streak at home in the post-Cup era. The last time the Isles had a longer streak was in 1982; the Isles ended the 1981-82 season with a 23-game unbeaten streak (21-0-2). That streak began on January 2, 1982 and was extended to 30 games over two seasons (28-0-2).
The last time that the Isles had a point streak of at least ten home games in a single season was in 1989-90, when they also earned points in ten straight games (12/16/1989 - 1/28/1990).
Longest Point Streaks in Post -Cup Era
11 - CURRENT (9-0-2)
10 - 12/16/89-01/28/90 (9-0-1)
10 - 3/24/13-10/17/13 (7-0-3 - Multi-season Streak)
Most Goals Since November 23rd
Best Records since December 20th
Best Power Play Since January 21st
1. Devils 33.3% 2. Capitals 31.6% 3. Bruins 31.5% 4. ISLES 25.0%
Playoff Chase:
Last 27
The Isles are now 16-7-4 in their last 27 games (since December 20th vs. Boston). In those games, the PP is 16-83(19.3%) and the penalty kill is 11-65 (83.1%). The Isles have had 18 more power plays than their opponents over that span, which is the best differential in the NHL
#1 is #1 (aka The Greiss is Right)
Thomas Greiss has started 19 of the last 23 games (10-6-3) and 21 of the last 28 games (12-6-3). He has allowed two goals or less in 15 of his last 21 games.
50-50 to Begin February
The Isles just concluded a 10 game stretch that features five home games and five road games, all in a span of 17 days. The Isles went 5-4-1 in this stretch (4-0-1 at home and 1-4-0 on the road):
The Isles will now play 17 of their final 24 on the road and do not have a homestand longer than two games. Beginning on Tuesday in Detroit, the Isles will play nine straight road games for the first time in franchise history.
The Long Road Ahead
The Isles will play nine consecutive road games for the first time in their history:
The Shots
Isles 13-15-4=32
New Jersey 10-11-9=30
The Isles are 14-7-4 when they outshoot their opponents and 2-2-0 when the shots are even but are 11-13-5 when they are outshot.
Home and Road
The Islanders are 27-21-10 overall; 20-8-6 at home and 7-13-4 on the road.
New Jersey is 25-24-10 overall; 13-11-4 at home and 12-13-6 on the road.
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 9-7-4 in Division games and 18-14-6 in games versus other divisions (7-9-3 vs. Atlantic, 5-2-1 vs. Central and 6-3-2 vs. Pacific). The Isles are 16-16-7 against the East and 11-5-3 against the West.
In the Nets
JF Berube made 26 saves as he improves to 3-2-0 on the season and 1-0-0 in his career against New Jersey.
Keith Kinkaid made 26 saves but falls to 6-7-2 on the season and 0-1-2 in his career against the Isles. The Long Island native (and Union College Hockey alum) did record his first career assist.
Power Plays
The Isles went 1-2 on the power play, while New Jersey was 2-4 and allowed a shorthanded goal.
The Isles are 12-6-6 when they score at least one power play goal and 15-15-4 when they do not. The Isles are 10-11-5 when they allow at least one power play goal and 17-10-5 when they do not.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 26-5-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 1-16-7 when they do not.
One Goal Games
The Isles are 8-8-10 in games decided by a single goal including 4-8-0 in regulation. They are 3-7 in games decided in overtime and are 1-3 in shootouts. The Isles are 4-1 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game (including one game that they allowed a goal after scoring an empty-netter).
First Goal
The Isles are 18-6-6 when they score first and are 9-15-4 when they allow the opening goal.
Back-to-Backs
Including tonight, the Isles are 4-6-1 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 4-3-4 on the back-end.
The Isles will play 16 sets of back-to-backs this season. The next back-to-back set is March 2nd in Dallas and March 3rd in Chicago.
Tired vs. Rested
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk (25:33); New Jersey: Andy Greene (23:44)
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Travis Hamonic (5-0-0), Nick Leddy (12-16-8), John Tavares (2-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (5-4-1), Dennis Seidenberg (1-0-1), Calvin de Haan (1-0-0), Tied (1-0-0).
John Tavares led the Isles forwards with 21:29 of ice-time. Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (20-13-8), Josh Bailey (4-5-2), Casey Cizikas (1-0-0), Cal Clutterbuck (0-1-0), Brock Nelson (1-2-0), Shane Prince (1-0-0).
Face-offs
Isles 30, New Jersey 34 (47%).
Casey Cizikas won 7 of 12 for the Isles; Travis Zajac won 22 of 29 for New Jersey (and 33 of 47 on the weekend). Zajac is the first Devil to ever win 22 face-offs in a game (stats exist since 1998) and the first to do so against the Isles while also winning at least 75% of his draws.
Face-offs by period: 1st period- 8/20; 2nd period 11/25; 3rd period 11/19.
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 27/54; Power play 1/4; Penalty kill 2/6.
Hit Count
Isles 38, New Jersey 13. Johnny Boychuk led the Isles with six hits; Five Devils each had two hits.
Fights
There were no fights. Season total - 11: (Hamonic 3, Mayfield 2, Strome 2, Boychuk 1, Chimera 1, deHaan 1, Hickey 1).
Blocked Shots
The Isles were credited with 14 blocked shots; four players each had two.
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 68, New Jersey 50 (including 60-36 Isles through the time where the Isles scored their sixth goal)
5-on-5 Isles 62, New Jersey 41
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: John Tavares +16; John Tavares 81%
New Jersey: Taylor Hall and Travis Zajac +12
Ironmen
Jason Chimera - 164 (including 106 for the Capitals); Josh Bailey 125, Brock Nelson 72, Calvin deHaan 61, John Tavares 58
Scratches
Adam Pelech, Shane Prince (injured), Cal Clutterbuck (injured)
Injured Reserve: Travis Hamonic
Total games lost: 110
All-time Islander Leader Boards:
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1123 \\* 2. Denis Potvin 1060 \\* 3. Bob Nystrom 900
10. Billy Harris 623 \\* 11. Stefan Persson 622 \\* 12. Josh Bailey 615
15 Garry Howatt 596 \\* 16. John Tonelli 594 \\* 17.John Tavares 568
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 \\* 2. Bryan Trottier 500 \\* 3. Denis Potvin 310
…
7. Bob Bourne 238 \\* 8. Bob Nystrom 235 \\\\ 9.John Tavares 228
…
25. Ray Ferraro 116 \\* 26. Ed Westfall and Benoit Hogue 105 \\* 28. Josh Bailey 104
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 \\* 2. Denis Potvin 742 \\* 3. Mike Bossy 553
8. Stefan Persson 317 \\* 9. Bob Bourne 304 \\* 10. John Tavares 292
16. Frans Nielson and Kyle Okposo 230 \\* 18. Pierre Turgeon 193 \\* 19. Josh Bailey 185
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1353 \\* 2. Mike Bossy 1126 \\* 3. Denis Potvin 1052
6. Pat LaFontaine 566 \\* 7. John Tonelli 544 \\* 8. Bob Bourne 542 \\* 9. John Tavares 520
20. Mariusz Czerkawski 295 \\* 21. Duane Sutter 292 \\* 22. Alexei Yashin 290 \\* 23. Josh Bailey 289
Late Heroes
The Isles have scored three times in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game:
Fit to Be Tied
The Isles have allowed the final goal of regulation in 10 of their 14 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 12 of their 21 regulation losses (and 22 of their 31 overall losses) but have allowed the lead goal in the final 3 minutes of regulation seven times (including one game they rallied to win):
Season Series Stats
The season series is even one game to one (and two points to two). The teams will meet again on March 31st in Brooklyn before the Isles close their road season on April 8th in Newark.
The Isles have won their last 6 home games against New Jersey although two of their Coliseum wins came in shootouts.
This was the first time the teams met on back-to-back days since November 25-26, 2011, when the Isles lost 1-0 at the Coliseum before winning 3-2 in New Jersey.
On The Farm
Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves to extend his club-record winning streak to 12 straight games and the Sound Tiger got goals from five players to defeat Hershey 5-2 to complete their second consecutive 3-games-in-3-days sweep. Joshua Ho-Sang, who had 7 points in the first two games of the weekend, was awarded an empty net goal to complete the scoring on Sunday as Bridgeport improved to 33-16-1-1 on the season and 15-1-0-0 in their last 16 games.
Bracken Kearns continues to lead the Sound Tigers in goals (18) and points (18-22-40). Ho-Sang is tied with fellow rookie Devon Toews for the team lead with 24 assists. Pulock leads the defense with 10 goals (10-14-24 in only 30 games) and is tied for the AHL defense lead with 4 game-winning goals (all in the last 3½ weeks). Jaroslav Halak leads the team in wins (13-1-2).
Bridgeport visit Providence on Friday before hosting the P-Bruins on Saturday. Hershey returns to Bridgeport Sunday at 3pm.
Up Next
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21st -ISLANDERS AT DETROIT- 7:30PM[MSG+2 (Isles Game Night begins at 7:00), WNYM 970AM, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN]
The Isles begin the 9-game road trip with their final game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It's the Isles' second visit to Detroit this month; Danny DeKeyser scored with 28 seconds to play to give the Red Wings a 5-4 win on February 3rd. DeKeyser also scored an overtime goal to beat the Isles in Brooklyn; these are two of the three goals that he has scored this season.
The Isles have lost three straight games in Detroit after winning their previous five games in the Motor City.