N.Y. Islanders: Four Chances to Win One

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Isles Lead Caps; 3-0

I - NYI 4; WAS 2

II - NYI 5; WAS 2

III - NYI 2; WAS 1*

*overtime

DON'T BREAK OUT THE BROOMS YET

Don't look now, but that glacier grinding through the bubble has an Islanders logo on it.  Unimpeded the Isles continue imposing their will.  But they say game four is always the hardest to win. 

In the meantime, the Washington Capitals are yet to draw up any viable legislation insofar as countering their former head coach and the New York Islanders.  Appropriately enough the captain Anders Lee opens the scoring with less than five minutes left in the first.  Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov converts a power play at 5:50 of the second knotting the game at one.  The teams play through a scoreless third and into overtime they go.  Semyon Varlamov effectively saves the game when he smothers Jakub Vrana coming down the slot on a breakaway opportunity.  Shortly thereafter New York gains puck control in the defensive end.  Derrick Brassard along the boards from outside the left circle unleashes a long distance cross-ice pass gathered in by Jordan Eberle skating through the neutral zone.  By a razors edge Mathew Barzal stays on-side while receiving Eberle's ensuing pass and continues blazing through the right circle towards net.  Unopposed Barzal dekes right then beats Braden Holtby on a crossover backhand for the victory and a three games to none series advantage.

Semyon Varlamov remains stellar, yielding zero even-strength goals in sixty-four minutes and twenty-eight seconds.  The Isles have now yielded just three even-strength goals this series through nine-plus periods of hockey.  Moreover, the Isles for a second time limit the Caps to just 23 shots on goal.  During the regular season Varlamov posts a regular season .914 SV% and 2.62 GAA.  Through the Islanders first seven post-season games he is averaging a .932 SV% and a 1.71 GAA.

Washington is playing without Nicklas Backstrom.  But the Isles are playing minus Johnny Boychuk.  Otherwise, the song remains the same ... the Isles have been particularly effective in their defensive zone with break-outs that oft times are near spotless.

• Florida was 4 for 14 on the PP (28.5%); the Isles were 4 for 16 on the PP (25%).
• Washington is 3 for 11 on the PP (27.2%); the Isles are 1 for 14 on the PP (0.71%).
• Opponents are 7 for 25 on the PP (28%); the Isles are 5 for 30 on the PP (16.6%)

• Florida averaged 25 shots on goal; the Isles averaged 30 shots on goal.
• Washington is averaging 23 shots on goal; the Isles are averaging 33 shots on goal.
• Opponents are averaging 24 shots on goal; Isles are averaging 31.5 shots on goal.

• Florida won 127 face-offs (52.2 %); the Isles won 116 face-offs (47.7 %).
• Washington has won 76 face-offs (42.6%); the Isles have won 102 face-offs (57.3%).

• Isles outscore the Panthers 13-7 and 9-3 at even-strength.
• Isles are outscoring the Caps 11-5 and 10-2 at even-strength.
• Isles have so far outscored their opponents by a 19-5 margin at even-strength, and are doubling their opponents 24-12 overall.

Stay out of the box, or score more on the power play.  The deeper the playoffs go the more essential special teams become.