Heading In Opposite Directions, Islanders and Devils Speed Past Each Other In The Night

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX  &  LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Islanders lead Devils; 3-1

I - NYI 4; NJD 1

II - NJD 2; NYI 0

III - NYI 2; NJD 1

THURSDAY

(1-3) Devils    3

(3-1) Islanders 5

FINAL

Long Island Is On Fire While Newark Remains Frozen In Ice

Another day, another twenty-minute performance by the New Jersey Devils.  In a near mirror image of their contest against Washington, in which they trailed the Capitals 4-1 after two periods, the Devils fell behind the Islanders 4-0 after two periods.  The Devils scored three times in the third period against the Caps but ultimately lost that game in overtime.  Thursday against the Isles, Newark again rallied for three goals in the third, but it clearly wasn't enough. 

Newark successfully killed off five penalties, which is to say they were completely overrun at even-strength.  They generated just 12 shots on goal through the first two periods and 22 shots overall versus 33 for Long Island.  Meanwhile, the Devils power-play hasn't scored since Feb. 27, against the Capitals.

After two more consecutive losses, the Devils have now lost ten of their last 14 games since returning from quarantine.  Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood appears in lockstep.  Back in January, he posted a .947 SV% through his first three games.  He then registered a decreased .904 SV% over seven games in February.  So far in March, Blackwood owns a .815 SV% through three games.  Through 13 games, he presently sports a .900 SV% and a troublesome 3.13 GAA.

This may be an unpopular take, but the Devils should seriously consider trading Kyle Palmieri and P.K. Subban.  After all, they are a rebuilding team.  Despite a minus-18 point differential and a division-low 58-goals for, the Devils nevertheless appear settled at the center.  There are other good young talents here.  But the Devils have clear deficiencies on the blue line.  Therefore, trade remaining assets and continue forging ahead with a full rebuild.

Lest we forget, the New York Islanders are in first place for a reason.  They own a plus-twenty point differential (28 points better than Newark), and with 38 points in 27 games, the Isles continue leading the division by two points over the relentless Washington Capitals.

Congratulations are in order.  Thursday's game marks Barry Trotz's 100th victory as coach of the Isles.

For the first time this season, the home team also played in front of a limited number of Long Island fans.  Those in attendance got to watch their Islanders win its seventh straight game and ninth win in their last ten.  The bad news is they also watched their Captain Anders Lee exit the ice due to an injury.  He is expected to miss some time.  He clearly appeared in pain, but the severity of the (undisclosed) injury is still unclear.  Anders Lee leads the team with both 80 shots on net and twelve goals in 27 games.  There's no denying he is among the league's toughest and most effective goal area loiterers.  If there's a loose puck, he finds it and converts.  

Getting the call, Ilya Sorokin saw little action through the game's first forty minutes.  However, the Isles eased off the throttle.  In turn, the Devils generated ten third-period shots on goal and found net three times.  In his eighth start, Sorokin nevertheless stopped 19 of 22 shots en route to his fifth straight win of the season.