N.Y. Islanders Impose Their Will Upon Boston Bruins

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
PLAYOFFS: ROUND TWO

Islanders defeat Bruins; 4-2

I - BOS 5; NYI 2

II - NYI 4; BOS 3*

III - BOS 2; NYI 1*

IV - NYI 4; BOS 1

V - NYI 5; BOS 4

VI - NYI 6; BOS 2

*overtime

Boston Gets Blown Out Of The Barn; Isles Advance To Final Four

Looking back, it took Barry Trotz exactly one game to figure out the Bruins.  Afterwhich, it was just a matter of physical execution.  

Game one was not an aberration.  Boston and their perfection line are that good.  Game three was a coin flip; we know that.  The real story was the one-all tie during regulation.  Otherwise, overtime is risky business.  Take away Long Island's two empty-net goals in game six, and the Isles still doubled up on Boston.  All told, the Islanders wind up outscoring Boston by a 22-17 margin.

Wednesday evening started with an inspiring National Anthem.  Good job by Long Island!

At some point, Lou Lamoriello needs to be shoehorned into this conversation.  In 13 regular-season games after his acquisition from the Devils, 36-year old Travis Zajac registered two points, a goal against Boston, and an assist versus the Rangers.  He played just one game in the series against Pittsburgh in which he posted an assist and a plus-two.  Travis was scoreless through the first five games against the Bruins.  Come game six, the veteran of 15 seasons and 57 playoff games while with the Devils opens the scoring at 8:52 of the first period off feeds from Noah Dobson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau - another Lamoriello acquisition.

This time Semyon Varlamov did not yield an early goal, and thus the Isles could play with a lead.  That is until Brad Marchand made Long Island pay for committing two really dumb tripping penalties when at 17:36 of the first, he scored a power-play goal assisted by David Krejci and David Pastrnak.

We've heard it before about Barry Trotz telling his team to keep pressing with the forecheck.  So you know he must have said something during the first intermission.  With mission statement in hand, Brock Nelson stole the puck near Boston's blue line and came barrelling through the right circle to score at 5:20 off feeds from Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey.  Then, at 12:39, a forechecking Brock Nelson seized the puck in a major Boston defensive zone faux-pas and scored with another assist from Josh Bailey.

Barry Trotz's system and Lou Lamoriello's acquisitions are punctuated by yet another Boston defensive zone turnover.  Kyle Palmieri converts a rebound unassisted at 16:07, giving the Isles a 4-1 lead.  Former New Jersey Devil Kyle Palmieri now leads the Islanders with seven playoff goals; Brock Nelson is next with six.

A third tripping penalty called against the Islanders (Matt Martin) leads to Brad Marchand's second power-play goal of the game.  Otherwise, Semyon Varlamov does not yield an even-strength goal.  He faces 25 shots on goal, stopping all but two during special teams.  Varlamov rewards his head coach's confidence in him with his fourth victory over Boston.  His only loss came after limiting Boston to just one goal in regulation, then losing game three in overtime.

It was quite appropriate that Cal Clutterbuck and Ryan Pulock should both score into empty nets, respectively, a reward for jobs well done.  Pulock led Isles blueliners with 23:21 minutes and a plus-one.  Clutterbuck, there's a reason why the Islanders a few years ago signed him to an extension.  They get their money's worth every night.

Meanwhile, the Islanders out-bullied the brutish Boston Bruins.  Long Island could have fallen upon the Bruins like a ton of bricks (as they did in game one) if they wanted to but realized a need to tone it down a bit to better sync up the rest of their game.  That said, Long Island in game six provided young Charlie McAvoy a lesson in what it's like playing under duress.  He needed upwards of six minutes to recover from a big hit by Kyle Palmieri ... there's that name again.

This was a sound series victory over the Bruins.

Nuf ced.

N.Y. Islanders Take 3-2 Series Lead Over Boston Bruins

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
ROUND TWO
Islanders lead Bruins; 3-2

I - BOS 5; NYI 2

II - NYI 4; BOS 3*

III - BOS 2; NYI 1*

IV - NYI 4; BOS 1

V - NYI 5; BOS 4

*overtime

Three Power Play Goals Sink Bruins

David Patrnak, or should I say, Semyon Varlamov did it again.  He yields an early goal within the first few shots of the game, forcing the Islanders to again play from behind.

A Bruin is a Bruin is a Bruin ... despite dominating play in the first period, Sean Kuraly is whistled for a mindless slash upon Noah Dobson at 18:17 of the first period.  Mathew Barzal continues his personal surge with a power-play goal at the 18:49 mark - a real crowd killer - tying the game at one.

A Bruin is a Bruin is a Bruin II ... at 2:56 into the second period, Matt Grzelcyk is penalized for cross-checking Leo Komarov.  Kyle Palmieri makes Boston pay just before the power play was set to expire.

But of course, the lead does not last.  The Islanders have thus far been caught playing Bruins hockey.  Brad Marchant skates around Ryan Pulock and, at 7:27, ties the game at two.

However, the tide starts to change, and now the Islanders have Boston drawn into their own brand of hockey.  Josh Bailey puts the Islanders ahead at 14:30 on feeds from Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Beauvillier.

A Bruin is a Bruin is a Bruin III ... at 15:18 of the second period, Chris Wagner is sent to the box for high-sticking Mathew Barzal.  At 16:38, Jordan Eberle gives Long Island a 4-2 lead; Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal the assists.

The Bruins pulled goalie Tuukka Rask for the third period.

Brock Nelson repays Boston for the Pastrnak goal when he scores at the 1:59 mark of the third period.

Afterwhich, it becomes a matter for Semyon Varlamov outlasting the Bruins.  Whereas the Islanders generate just 19 shots on goal, Boston fired off 44 shots on goal.  Pastrnak scores on a power-play at the 3:48 mark, and at 14:43, David Krejci pulls the Bruins within one.  But they would score no more.

Semyon Varlamov faces 44 shots stopping four for the win.  

Physicality remains up to snuff; Islanders hold the edge.

Mathew Barzal now has three goals in his last three games and six points in the series.

Kyle Palmieri scored his team-leading sixth goal of the playoffs and his third against the Bruins.

N.Y. Islanders Make Statement in Game Four Victory Over Boston

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Islanders and Bruins tied: 2-2

I - BOS 5; NYI 2

II - NYI 4; BOS 3*

III - BOS 2; NYI 1*

IV - NYI 4; BOS 1

*overtime

Islanders Dictate Terms in Game Four Victory

I'm inclined to say this was the Islanders' most complete performance of the playoffs, wherein scoring, goaltending, physicality, and defense all came together.  That wasn't always the case in the first round against Pittsburgh.

Mathew Barzal now has four points in his last three games.  This, after posting just three points through the Islanders' first seven post-season games.  On Saturday, he assists on Kyle Palmieri's game-tying goal in the second period, then scores the go-ahead goal at 13:03 of the third period.  It was the first of three unanswered goals by Long Island en route to a 4-1 victory and a two-all series tie.  Casey Cizikas scored into an empty net at 18:57 and exactly one minute later, Jean-Gabriel Pageau buried his third of the playoffs.  Trade deadline acquisition Kyle Palmieri now leads the Islanders with five playoff goals. 

Boston had more shots on goal in the first period, but the Isles outshot the Bruins in both the second and third periods.  Long Island denied the Bruins any puck continuity and wind up outshooting Boston by a 35-29 margin.  Faceoffs were split down the middle at 30 apiece.  

Scott Mayfield administered some attitude adjustment to Taylor Hall, and Matt Martin squared off with Jarred Tinnordi.  Mathew Barzal even took a spear to the family jewels.  Otherwise, cross-checks and slashing were the order of the day.  All of which worked in Long Island's favor.

Tuukka Rask, simply put, is an excellent goalie.  He knows what it's like to lift the Cup.  Rask faced 32 shots, making four saves on special teams and 26 saves at even strength.  But Semyon Varlamov was a little better this game, facing 29 shots and stopping all but one.  He made nine saves on special teams, and 19 saves at even strength.

N.Y. Islanders Take Out Penguins In Six

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND TWO

GAME ONE

ISLANDERS

vs.

BRUINS

FROM

Causeway Street Ice Hut

Isles Find Balance in the Force

Hear that..?

That's the sound of a window slamming shut.  

Time is running short for the Penguins.  For several years now, they've suffered poor goaltending and defensive depth.  Far too often, their top two defensemen average 28 and 29 minutes a night.  On this night, Chris Letang registers over 28 minutes.  Four Penguins defensemen finished with a minus-two.  Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust were minus-three, and Jake Guentzel was a minus-four.

Game Six starts on a down note.  Jeff Carter, there's that name again, scores just 1:27 into the game.  The Isles answer just under four minutes later.  Anthony Beauvillier nets his third of the series on feeds from Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. 

Scott Mayfield gets whistled at 9:58 of the first for cross-checking Evgeni Malkin.  It served its purpose, but Jake Guentzel made Long Island pay at 11:12 with his first goal of the series.  Then roughly one minute later, Kyle Palmieri ties the game at two off a feed from Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The Islanders commit their second cardinal sin of the evening when at 1:53 of the second period, Jason Zucker gives the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

After which, the Penguins fall apart like wet toilet paper.

Brock Nelson scores at 8:35, and Ryan Pulock scores 13 seconds later on feeds from Travis Zajac and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.  Just under three minutes later, Brock Nelson nets his second goal of the game for a 5-3 lead and the final margin of victory.   

Ilya Sorokin stops 34 of 37 shots on goal and all shots over the final 38:07 minutes of play.

Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson register three points each.  Islanders trade acquisitions: Kyle Palmieri scores three goals in six games, and Travis Zajac, who has played infrequently, finished with a plus-two.

• ICE COLD: Mathew Barzal registers just three assists and a minus-two through six games. 

Long Island wins the series in six.  After being down two games to one, the Isles win three in a row.  Once they toned down the physicality, their overall game synced up.  They will now take on the Boston Bruins, who easily defeated the Washington Capitals in five.  I'm curious to see how they approach this easily more physical match-up.

N.Y. Islanders: Former New Jersey Devil Topples Penguins in Overtime

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

2020-2021 

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE

Islanders lead Penguins; 1-0

I - NYI 4; PITT 3*

*overtime

Kyle Palmieri Finishes What He Starts

The Islanders have trouble scoring?  Yeah, so let's make a trade?  Oh, it did little to impact offensive production? 

About that ...

Former New Jersey Devil Kyle Palmieri does exactly what the Islanders needed most, score pucks.  He opens the scoring at 7:58 of the first period on feeds from Noah Dobson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.  But whatever the Islanders did, the Penguins answered right back.   Within minutes Frederick Gaudreau ties the game at one.  Sidney scores the only goal of the second period.  Just 3:33 into the third period, Jean-Gabriel Pageau ties the game at two.  Then at 15:50, Brock Nelson gives the Isles a 3-2 lead with assists from Anthony Beauvillier and Ryan Pulock.  But a mere 36-seconds later, Kasperi Kapanen ties the game at three, and into overtime, they go.

At 16:30 of the extra session, the veteran Kyle Palmieri patiently settles an uncooperative bouncing puck then wrists it high over Tristan Jarry's left shoulder for the game-winner.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau matches Sidney Crosby with five SOG's and one goal but also comes away with two assists for three points.

Getting the start between the pipes, Ilya Sorokin stops 39 of 42 shots on goal, all at even strength.

N.Y. Islanders: Major Letdown Theater

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Capitals lead Islanders; 5-2

I - WAS 3; NYI 2

II - WAS 6; NYI 3

III - WAS 3; NYI 1

IV - NYI 8; WAS 4

V - NYI 1; WAS 0

VI - WAS 1l NYI 0

VII - WAS 6; NYI 3

Islanders Lose Second Straight at Home

No Ovechkin, no problem ...

The showdown that was supposed to be has turned into a major letdown.

Washington doubled up the Islanders 6-3 in the second game of their three-game set.  

The Caps already led 2-0 halfway through the first period.  Anthony Beauvillier scored an unassisted power-play goal at the 14:28 mark.  Adam Pelech then tied it at 7:37 of the second period on a shorthanded goal, again unassisted.  

However, Washington answered right back with goals at 12:21 by Nic Dowd, and at 14:46 by Daniel Sprong.  Before the period was through, Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored on a power-play at the 17:12 mark bringing the Isles within one.  

But two more unanswered goals in the third gave the Capitals six even-strength goals for the game.  Making his 18th appearance, Ilya Sorokin faced 30 shots, all at even strength.  This is his fifth regulation time loss against twelve victories. 

The Islanders afforded the Capitals just one power-play opportunity.  Josh Bailey, Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin, and Anthony Beauvillier were all minus-3 for the game.

That makes two home losses in a row for the Islanders and their fifth loss in seven tries against the Capitals.  Long Island trails Washington by one point in the East standings.  They meet one last time on Tuesday.

 

N.Y. Islanders: First Place Showdown Against Washington Capitals

From the desk: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

SHOWDOWN

Capitals lead Islanders; 3-2

I - WAS 3; NYI 2

II - WAS 6; NYI 3

III - WAS 3; NYI 1

IV - NYI 8; WAS 4

V - NYI 1; WAS 0

Washington Capitals

vs.

New York Islanders

The Rangers must have been feeling really good about themselves after sweeping four straight from the Devils.  Whatever they were feeling ended Tuesday night when the Isles slapped some reality back into them with a decisive 6-1 victory at The Barn.

• Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba left the game midway through the first period with only five minutes of ice time after getting plastered in the corner by Matt Martin who was the initial recipient of a big hit by Trouba.

Josh Bailey returned from missing two games.  However, Cal Clutterbuck remains out.  Bailey was joined on the same line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Anthony Beauvillier.  Together they accounted for nine points.  Jordan Eberle finished with a goal and an assist, and Brock Nelson scored his team-leading 16th goal.  Even new acquisitions Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri joined for three shots on goal and an assist each.

The next three games will go a long way towards determining the East Division winner.  Long Island and Washington enter the series tied at 62 points each with an equal number of games remaining.  After the Capitals, the Isles finish out the season with two games each against the Rangers, Sabres, and Devils and a one-game season finale against the Bruins.  The Capitals finish up with two each against the Penguins, Rangers, and Flyers and close out the regular season with one game against Boston. 

Semyon Varlamov

• Games: 30
• Record: 17-9-3
• SV%: .923
• GAA: 2.20

Vitek Vanecek

• Games: 31
• Record: 17-9-3
• SV%: .908
• GAA: 2.77

The Islanders are sputtering of late with a 1-3-2 record in their last six games.  The Caps are 4-2-0 in their last six but are coming off a loss against Boston.  Washington leads the season series.  However, the Islanders have won the last two meetings.  When they last played on Apr. 6, Brock Nelson scored the only goal of the game.  Semyon Varlamov faced 29 shots and stopped them all for the shutout.

N.Y. Islanders Issue Philadelphia Flyers a Reality Check

From the desk: LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Saturday Night Fever

Flyers    1

Islanders 6

FINAL

Islanders Halt Three-Game Skid Against Flyers in Commanding Fashion

Look what happened to the Flyers, again.  Two games after getting undressed 9-0 by the Rangers at the Garden, the Islanders bounce back from Thursday's disappointing defeat against Philly with a 6-1 drubbing of the visitors Saturday at the Barn.

Like thieves in the night, the Flyers in Thursday's match scored with just over two minutes left in the third period to snap a three-all tie and come away with a 4-3 victory.  But on Saturday, the Isles offered no quarter.  Long Island scored four times within the span of about nine minutes in the first period.  Jean-Gabriel Pageau opened the scoring with a power-play goal shortly followed by Jordan Eberle's goal at the 8:01 mark.  Two minutes later, Casey Cizikas scored the first of two first-period goals for a 4-0 Islanders lead.  However, before the period expired, Joel Farabee finally got Philadelphia on the board at 17:52 with his 13th goal of the season.

After a scoreless second period, Anthony Beauvilliere and Josh Baily each scored a goal in the third, giving the Islanders a 6-1 final margin of victory.

Playing without their captain Anders Lee (lost for the season), Long Islanders centermen still generated ten shots on net with four goals and seven points.  The other guy with a C on his jersey, albeit in his name, Casey Cizikas, now has six goals for the season.

• Anders Lee will undergo right knee surgery to repair a torn ACL; he is out for the season.  He last played in a 5-3 victory on Mar. 11 against the Devils.  The Isles are now 3-2 in his absence.

Goalie Ilya Sorokin earns his seventh straight victory while benefiting from an average of 4.0 goals per game worth of support.  He faced 24 Philadelphia shots, including four on special teams, stopping all but one at even strength.

This was Long Island's first victory this season over the Flyers in four tries.  Saturday's game, coupled with the Rangers defeat of Washington again, locks the Capitals and Islanders together in a first-place tie with 44 points apiece.  Since losing five straight back in January (and two postponements against Buffalo), the Islanders are now winners 17 of their last 23 games.  Their plus-24 point differential ranks fourth in the league.

Hockey Night in New York State: Rangers Centermen Do Not Stack Up Against Next Door Neighbors

From the desk: HOCKEY NIGHT IN NEW YORK STATE

TUESDAY

Devils      5

Rangers   3

FINAL

Look what the Devils did to the Rangers ... again!  

On Jan.19, the Devils went into MSG and defeated the Rangers, 4 to 3.  After five games and upwards of seventeen players getting scrubbed due to COVID, Newark returns to the ice at MSG on Tuesday, where they again defeated the Rangers, this time by a 5-3 final margin of victory.  It's like they never left the ice.

Nico Hischier is still out, and Jack Hughes was rather unproductive with no shots on goal through 21 shifts and 18:59 minutes of ice time.  The rest is just bad news for Rangers fans.  Four other Devils centermen accounted for ten of Newark's 36 shots on net, with three assists and two goals.  Novice center Janne Kuokkanen assisted on three goals.  Playing in his tenth game, center Pavel Zacha scored his third goal and notched his fifth point.  

By comparison, Mika Zibanejad has now played 14 games and is stuck at three points despite skating the team's most shifts and minutes.  Kevin Rooney played the least minutes (13:24) of the five Rangers centermen.  The point being, together, the futile five accounted for eleven shots on goal, one goal by Colin Blackwell, and one assist from Brett Howden.

• NET RESULT: Five points by Devils centermen; two points by Rangers centermen.

TUESDAY

Islanders   3

Sabres        0

FINAL

Don't look now, but it appears the Islanders are straightening themselves out.  On back-to-back nights, the Long Islanders take two straight from the Sabres at Buffalo.  After losing five straight, they are now winners of five of their last six games.

But this is still more about the Rangers than the Islanders - although I invite Isles fans to revel in our misery.  That said, Long Island centermen accounted for ten shots on net, with three goals and three assists.  Josh Bailey had two assists, Anders Lee scored two goals, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau had one goal and one assist.

If you go back, Tuesday was a near mirror image of Monday's game.  Islanders centermen accounted for 13 shots on net, with three goals and three assists.  That means in two games at Buffalo, Isles centermen accounted for 23 shots, six goals, and six assists.

• All Rangers Centers: 12 goals; 10 assists; 22 points.
• Mathew Barzal & Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 12 goals; 13 assists; 25 points.

Long Islanders Do To The Boston Bruins What The Rangers Could Not

From the desks: LONG ISLAND NOMADS & RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

BRUINS CENTERMEN: 55 points

Islanders Centermen: 41 points

Rangers Centermen: 20 points

In the week that was, Boston defeated the Rangers in successive games to win their fourth and fifth straight.  The Bruins then take on the Islanders and get stopped cold in their tracks.  One needn't look very far for the reasons why.  

The Islanders have scoring threats up the middle, and the Rangers do not.  Whereas the Rangers mustered three goals in two games against the Bruins, the Islanders posted four goals in just one tilt.

Against the Bruins, Mike Zibanejad skated 21:49 minutes on Wednesday with four shots on goal and no points, then skated for 24:21 minutes on Friday, managing zero shots on goal.  Overall, through two games against Boston, the position of center generated 18 shots on goal but just one point on a goal by Kevin Rooney.  Six of those shots were from Ryan Strome in Wednesday's game.  However, on Friday, Strome and Zibanejad joined for just one shot on goal.  The Rangers centermen accounted for only four shots on Friday, whereas the Bruins centermen accounted for 14 shots.  Overall, Boston centers generated two points (on an assist by Patrice Bergeron and a goal by Brad Marchand) on 23 shots on goal.

SATURDAY

Bruins       2

Islanders  4

FINAL

On Saturday, Brad Marchant and Patrice Bergeron each recorded a goal and an assist.  At 11:36 of the first period, Jean-Gabriel Pageau tied the game at one with his third goal of the season.  At 5:30 of the third period, Mathew Barzal scored on a power play giving the Islanders a 3-2 lead.  Jean-Gabriel Pageau then capped off the scoring with a short-handed goal at 14:32, giving the Islanders a 4-2 final margin of victory.  In the Islanders' first encounter against the Bruins back on Jan. 18, Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the only goal of the game at 15:51 of the third period.  Unlike Tex's Rangers, Long Islander centermen in two games against the Bruins generated 22 shots on goal with three goals and two assists.

Ryan Strome is the Rangers' top-scoring centerman with four goals and two assists.  Mike Zibanejad continues to lag with just one goal and two assists through 13 games.  Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders with 14 points on six goals and eight assists.  Jean-Gabriel Pageau is next in with four goals and three assists.  Three of the Islanders' top four scorers are centermen whereas no centerman breaks the top three for the Rangers; Strome is the team's fourth-leading scorer.

N.Y. Islanders: Deep-Sixed

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning defeat Islanders; 4-2

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

III - NYI 5; TBL 3

IV - TBL 4; NYI 3

V - NYI 2; TBL 1**

VI - TBL 2' NYI 1*

** double-overtime

* overtime

Why bother breaking down game six and rehashing things like Cal Clutterbuck hitting the post and things of that nature.  Why not focus instead on the fact Clutterbuck was the Islanders best center in game six.

Through six games shots on goal were a lopsided 213-165 in favor of the Bolts.  Some of that has to do with Barry Trotz' system, some has to do with Tampa, the rest has to do with any given five skaters on the ice.  On average the Bolts take eight more shots per game.  Thus the Islanders through six games get outscored by a 20-12 margin.  Omit game one and the Bolts still outscore the Isles by a 12-10 margin.

Blue liners Ryan McDonagh and Victor Hedman were definite thorns in the Islanders side.  Their respective pinching efforts impacted the series.  But the Lightning, simply put, win four games with center Brayden Point on the ice, and lose two when he's not on the ice.  Through seventeen games played, Point has nine goals and sixteen assists.  In 22 games Brock Nelson scores nine goals with nine assists and Mathew Barzal posts five goals and twelve assists over the same number of games.  Does the difference in this series between Tampa and Long Island lie in the Islanders having Jean-Gabriel Pageau at center instead of John Tavares?

Maybe, maybe not ...

Otherwise, neither team does themselves any favors on the power play.  Tampa goes 4/21, but if you subtract three PP goals from game one, the Bolts are just 1/15 with the man advantage.  Long Island fares no better, going 2/19 in six games.

Both Semyon Varlamov and Robin Lehner both bow out of the final four.  Through twenty games and nineteen starts, Varlamov wraps up business with a .921SV% and a 2.14 GAA.  Robin Lehner, who will likely sign an extension with Las Vegas, plays sixteen games while posting a .917SV% and 1.99 GAA.  The difference between the two seems negligible.  Did Lou Lamoriello make the right choice?  It's too close to call, besides, Andrei Vaslievskiy outperformed them both.  He has started every game for Tampa since entering the bubble.  Through nineteen games he owns a .931SV% and a 1.82 GAA. 

Revived New York Islanders Short Circuit Bolts in Game Three

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning lead Isles; 2-1

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

III - NYI 5; TBL 3

THE LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR MOOD MANAGEMENT WELCOMES YOU

What's a Long Islander to do when the opposition shows up for work a few forwards short of a dozen?  You forecheck the crap out of whoever is left.  I do not say that facetiously.  The Lightning were forced to play five different forwards in excess of eighteen minutes each.  They might as well have had "Tenderize Me" stitched on the back of their jerseys.

Tampa is making a big mistake if they're trying to raise the physicality of this series instead of what worked for them in game one: dump and chase and speed to the puck.  Time and again in game one they made Islanders defensemen turn their backs and skates towards the boards.  Lately, not so much.

And there's the rub ...

Coming off the Flyers series, who said the Islanders would need a few games before they get their skates under them?  Who predicted the Isles would be down 2-1 after three games?  And who said they'd be better for it?

Thank you very much, although the latter remains to be seen.

Game two was very much an Islander type game.  But they blinked, twice, and Lightning struck.  It goes like that sometimes.  Make no mistake: the Islanders are feeling good again .. and feisty.  Game three's boxscore says Tampa out-hit the Islanders by a 66-42 margin.  You can believe that if you like.  After all, numbers don't lie.  But if you watched, you know that's not what happened.  Long Island makes up for a disparity in hits via several scrums.  Moreover, Matt Martin exacts a measure of revenge upon Barclay Goodrow on behalf of Brock Nelson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau gives Nikita Kucherov a much needed attitude adjustment.  On a more clandestine level, Long Island also keeps a closer eye on Ryan McDonagh.

If the Islanders let one get away in game two, they slammed the door shut on game three.  Not before Tampa nearly takes over this game, proving once again they can outscore mistakes and in this instance a shortage of available skaters.  The Lightning overcome a 3-1 deficit with two goals in the third period.  But the reinvigorated Islanders strike back.  Brock Nelson scores at 16:35 assisted by Anthony Beaulliviere and Josh Bailey.  At 19:24 Jean-Gabriel Pageau scores into an empty net.

The Islanders finally break through Andrei Vasilevskiy with four goals on 35 shots.  Semyon Varlamov faces 37 shots and makes 34 saves.  But he plays much better than the numbers indicate.

N.Y. Islanders: Flyers Best Effort Still Not Good Enough

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019    PLAYOFFS    2020

Isles lead Flyers; 3-1

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

III - NYI 3; PHI 1

IV - NYI 3; PHI 2

*overtime

Look What the Isles did to the Flyers ... Again! 

What you saw in game four was Philadelphia's best effort.  I promise you.  Alain Vigneault is a good regular season coach but when it comes to the playoffs his system short circuits.

Where's his Cup-O-Fame?  That's me the Rangers fan speaking ... otherwise you Isles fans know I'm an objective observer.

Philadelphia out-shoots (38-33) the Islanders and they out-hit (39-35) the Islanders and it still gets them nowhere.  In fact, game four had all the makings of a bad night: Thomas Greiss making his first start of the postseason and the Isles allowing the most shots on goal since entering the bubble.  But all Long Island nomads know scoring and playing physical hockey have never been problems for the Islanders.

Thomas Greiss indeed makes his first start of these playoffs.  Although Greiss appears in relief of Semyon Varlamov during game two - which the Islanders lose 4-3 in overtime - this marks Thomas' first start since way back on March 7th against Carolina.  Playing in front of Greiss, the Islanders yield a playoff high 38 shots on goal.  A fresh Thomas Greiss steels the show stopping all but two.  A great spot start by him.

But when people say "Flyers turnovers" I say Islanders defense.

After a scoreless first period, Brock Nelson and Philly's Sean Couturier trade second period even-strength goals.  Long Island then takes the wind from beneath the Flyers wings with two goals in the third just four minutes apart by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brock Nelson's second of the game.  Yeah, the Islanders allowed a goal in the last two minutes, but in this instance it's okay.

The Islanders now own a commanding 3-1 series lead over Alain Vigneault's floundering Philadelphia Flyers.

New York Islanders Momentum Put on Hold After Game Two Loss

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Series Tied; 1-1

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

*overtime

Nothing More to See; Don't Worry; All is Well; Go Back to Your Homes and Thank You For Your Concern

Once you play beyond regulation, well, the first little slip up and it's game over.  Even the sun shines on a dog's posterior once a day.  To Philadelphia's credit the Flyers do create a bunch of traffic in front of Semyon Varlamov.  And sure enough, that jam up leads to the game winning goal.  I'm just not convinced Philadelphia actually wins on a long range deflection, or if the slow starting Islanders let one slip away.  In either scenario the Flyers last night should've slept with troubled minds after blowing a three goal lead.

The undeterred Islanders stay true to themselves and just grind their way through the second and third periods like a glacier carving its way through the Toronto bubble.  It takes overtime, but the Isles allow thirty-plus shots on goal for the first time since the NHL's restart.  So, technically they've yet to yield thirty SOG in regulation.  The Isles still out-shoot Philly by a 34-31 margin and continue doing what's been making them so successful: they're 2 for 2 on the PK and go 1 for 3 on the power play.  They also administer more hits and win more face-offs.  More across the board contributions come from Anders Lee, Anthony Beaullivier and the game tying goal with just over two minutes left in regulation from Jean-Gabriel Pageau.  That's been Islanders hockey.  After a disastrous first period they regroup and impose their brand of play until Philippe Myers flips the scrip at the 2:41 mark of overtime.

Sean Couturier leads the Flyers with four shots on goal, while four other skaters manage three each.  The Islanders on the other hand are led by Anders Lee's eight shots on goal and Anthony Beauvillier's six shots on net.  Three other Islanders put three shots on net as well.  Therefore have faith in Coach Trotz' four line blitz.  Game two was nothing more than the Isles showing up late for work - it happens.

If any team is under stress through two games, it's Philadelphia.  The Flyers are asking for extended minutes from their blue liners.  Ivan Provorov and Travis Sanheim clock over twenty minutes in game two, and in game one they play three defensemen in excess of twenty minutes.  The more minutes they stay on the ice the easier it gets to make them turn their heads and get their bodies skating in the wrong direction.  In game two not one Isles defenseman surpasses twenty minutes even as they continue forward minus Johnny Boychuck.

This can either be a turning point in the series for Philly (if you let your imagination run wild), or just a bump in the road for the Islanders.  I suspect the latter, but of course that remains to be seen.

N.Y. Islanders: Isles Whitewash Feeble Flyers

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Islanders lead Flyers;1-0

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

Islanders waste little time, lead Flyers 1-0

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 24, 2020

2-0 #BeatVigneault

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 25, 2020

3-0. This team is furious at even strength. #NYI Surprised Alain Vigneault lasted in Philly this long. #Soft #LGR #BeatVigneault

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 25, 2020

FOUR ... ZIP

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 25, 2020

Semyon Varlamov has now stopped his last fifty shots on goal, and throws his second straight shutout.  Meanwhile, the Islanders continue smothering the competition.  They have yet to allow thirty shots on goal by any team (FLA, WAS, PHI) since entering the bubble.  The Isles also continue getting scoring across the board.  Thirteen different Islanders have now scored at least one goal.  On Monday they get four unanswered goals from Andy Greene in the first, and three goals in the third by Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Anders Lee and Devon Toews (empty net).  In fact, they've outscored their opponents 35-15 through ten games to date.  They didn't compromise themselves by loitering in the box.  So far at even strength they've proven unstoppable.  This is a team which put together a ten game win streak back in October.  However, they were just 2-11 in their last thirteen games leading up to the pandemic shut-down.  They are now 8-2 over their last ten while scoring more than twice as often as their competition.

N.Y. Islanders Pop Washington's Bubble in Five

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Islanders def. Capitals; 4-1

I - NYI 4; WAS 2

II - NYI 5; WAS 2

III - NYI 2; WAS 1*

IV - WAS 3; NYI 2

V - NYI 4; WAS 0

*overtime

Islanders Rout Washington Capitals

Islanders not only spent less time in the penalty box but also score on a power play!

Who are these guys?

Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beaullivier sit the Islanders only four minutes in the penalty box (too many men on the ice and a holding whistle on Beaullivier).  Otherwise, that's it.  The Isles get to play with five skaters on the ice for upwards of fifty-five minutes.  Net result is a commanding 4-0 victory and five game wipeout of the Washington Capitals.

The Islanders not only outscore their opponent, they double them by a lopsided 17-8 margin, with fifteen goals coming at even strength.  Ten different Islanders score.  Jordan Eberle, Matt Martin, Brock Nelson, Cal Clutterbuck and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each score a goal.  Josh Bailey, Nick Leddy and Mathew Barzal each score two goals, and Anders Lee and Anthony Beaullivier tally three goals each.  Meanwhile Washington's scoring is limited to three players.  Their eight series goals come from T.J. Oshie (2); Evgeny Kuznetsov (2); and Alex Ovechkin (4).  New York's defense limits the Capitals to an average of 24.8 shot per game.  In game four they allow a series high 29 shots, but in game five allow a series low 21 shots by Washington.

Washington averages just 1.6 goals per game.  Semyon Varlamov pitches a shutout in game five, making 21 saves, one on the PK and another while short-handed.  Varlamov faces 121 total shots in five-plus games, making 113 saves.  He permits four even strength goals, and four PP goals.

• Regular season: 2.62 GAA and .914 SV%
• Nine Games in the Bubble: 7-2-0, 1.67 GAA, .934 SV%

Islanders still have work to do.  They were just 2/21 (.095%) on the power play.

N.Y. Islanders: Power Play Remains Short Circuited

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Isles Lead Caps; 3-1

I - NYI 4; WAS 2

II - NYI 5; WAS 2

III - NYI 2; WAS 1*

IV - WAS 2; NYI 1

*overtime

Alex Ovechkin Helps Capitals Avert Elimination

Winning the fourth game of a playoff series is always hardest for a reason.

Washington is not going down lightly, especially with Alex Ovechkin on the ice.  The Capitals stave off elimination with a victory in game four, making the series 3-1 in favor of the Isles.  Without thinking too loudly, I wouldn't want my team sitting around after a sweep.  More hockey may be a good thing.

But hockey fans know very well the deeper a series and the playoffs go the more important special teams become.  Given five PP opportunities in game four, the Islanders again come up empty.  The Isles are now an anemic 1/19 (0.52%) on the power play versus the Capitals.  Rewind to last series and the Isles are 4/16 (25%) in four games against the Florida Panthers.  All told they are now 5/35 (14.2%) since entering the bubble.  Together the Panthers and Capitals are 8/30 (26.6%) on the power play.  Eight goals means the Isles are allowing an average of one PP goal per game.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mathew Barzal give the Islanders a commanding 2-0 lead before the game's first ten minutes elapse.  Three and a half minutes into the second Evgeny Kuznetsov gets Washington on the scoreboard.  At 3:46 Mathew Barzal gets whistled for holding; it's one of five PP opportunities this game afforded to the Caps.  One minute forty-three seconds later Alex Ovechkin ties the game at two.  Early in the third Ovechkin gives the Capitals a 3-2 lead and ultimate margin of victory.

Therefore, it bares repeating: stay out of the box or score more on the power play.

Otherwise, the Islanders continue handling the Capitals they way they've been all series.  They continue to win the face-off battle.  At center Mathew Barzal and Jean-Gabriel Pageau account for nine shots on goal, only this time Washington outshoots the Islanders by a 29-26 margin.  It's the Caps most shots on goal all series.  Moreover, it's the most shots on goal in one game by either Florida or Washington.  Previously the Panthers twice achieve 28 SOGs in a game.  Previously Washington's best effort comes in game two with 25 shots on goal.  In turn this marks the first time New York is held under 30 SOG's all series, and only the third time since entering the bubble.