N.Y. Islanders: Playing Against The Unseen Hand

From the desk of:  THE BARRY TROTZ PAJAMA PARTY

Hurricanes lead series 2-0

I - CAR 1; NYI 0*

II - CAR 2; NYI 1

*overtime

New York Islanders: Barry Trotz Patiently Waiting For Goal Scorers to Emerge.

So much for home ice advantage ... After a rather unceremonious return to Brooklyn, the question begs to be asked: did the Islanders ever have it in the first place?

Previous to game one they hadn't played at Barclays Center since February.  The Islanders split this season's home schedule between Brooklyn and Uniondale, but finished out the season playing their final twelve home games and first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Long Island.  Of course the counter is they achieved 103 regular season points partly playing at Brooklyn.

On to the next excuse ...

After a ten game layoff, brushing off game one's overtime loss was the easy thing to do.  Now down two games going away Islanders fans are being led to believe they've secured another moral victory.  As Coach puts it, this is nothing more than the "unseen hand" at work, and that if they continue playing the way they've been, the Islanders will be fine.

With twenty minutes left in game two, the Islanders stood poised to knot the series.  They were leading 1-0 and now facing Carolina's backup goalie.  They had finally scored their first goal of the series back in the first period off starter Petr Mzerak, whom exited the game due to injury early in the second period.  At that point one could only imagine what opportunities potentially awaited the Islanders against Curtis McElhinney.

But Carolina had other ideas.  Warren Foegele's blast from the right wing just 0:17 into the third period tied the game at one.  Robin Lehner had a clean look, but the unseen hand just blew it by him.  Forty-eight seconds later, Nino Niederreiter scored on a deflection.  This time there was nothing Robin Lehner could do to prevent the unseen hand from seizing a 2-1 lead.

Curtis McElhinney took care of the rest, facing 17 shots on goal - all but one at even strength - and stopped them all since taking over early in the second period.

Despite repeated quality opportunities - as Coach points out - the Islanders offensive production was stifled yet again.  It's worth noting Mathew Barzal's first period goal was the result of a Hurricane self deflection.  Therefore truth be told the Islanders are yet to score a clean goal against either Carolina net minder in over 120 minutes of hockey.

Carolina outscored the Washington Capitals by a slim 21-20 margin through seven games.  They averaged three goals per game against the Caps.  But the Islanders defense has so far limited Carolina to half as many through six plus periods of hockey.  Yet they themselves can't seem to find the back of the net after averaging 3.5 goals per game during their sweep of Pittsburgh.

• Useless Stat Alert: the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a +22 point differential while the Islanders registered a +32 mark for the season.

• Cal Clutterbuck is hurt again; details pending.  It's also worth mentioning the Isles are still playing without Johnny Boychuk.

N.Y. Islanders: Game One Loss Apparently No Big Deal

From the desk of:  THE BARRY TROTZ PAJAMA PARTY

ISLANDERS RETURN TO BROOKLYN

GAME TWO

Carolina Hurricanes (1-0)

vs.

New York Islanders (0-1)

FROM

FLATBUSH AVENUE ICE RINK

New York Islanders hit pothole upon their return to Brooklyn.

I'm buying into the consensus take within the Islanders locker room that game one's loss is no big deal.  All is well - there's nothing more to see here.  You can all go back to your homes and get some sleep.  We're on it.

Famous last words ... look how many favorites have already been booted from the tourney.

Make no mistake, Carolina is a very good emerging team.  Young and somewhat inexperienced, they're a more gamely bunch than their seventh place conference finish suggests.  As such they're not necessarily weighted down by over expectations and therefore get to play relatively free of undue pressure.  That makes for an extremely dangerous opponent.  Underestimate them at your own risk.  Just ask Alex Ovechkin and the former defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.

In the Islanders case, I believe the effects of rust are a very real matter where it concerns the speed of playoff hockey.  Entering round two, I would have rather been the team coming off an extended series than the one waiting around for an opponent as the Islanders were made to do after sweeping the Penguins.  Coach Trotz after game one eluded to mental rust more so than physical.  Game one may or may not have proved that out.  But like round one the burden of expectations again weighs on the shoulders of Carolina's opponent.  That said, the Islanders were far more sharper than I thought they would be after a ten day layoff.  Thus, despite Carolina's game one victory it is with great confidence I say the Hurricanes are in trouble.

The box score says the Islanders were shut out.  In fact, each team had their power play opportunities and came up empty.  That could turn into a problem for the Islanders.  But outside of returning from a ten day layoff, when has even strength scoring ever been their problem?  Lest we forget the Isles outscored Pittsburgh by a 14-6 margin through four games.

Instead, defensive shortcomings, net minding - and in hindsight coaching - have always been the Islanders undoing.  These days, limiting goals is what the Islanders do best.  And for all intent and purpose Friday proved no different.  The Hurricanes scored 245 regular season goals, while the Islanders tallied 228 goals, but at the same time allowed the fewest in all the NHL.  The Islanders have been relearning hockey under Barry Trotz.  Just as he did at Washington, Trotz gave the Islanders blue liners and his forwards a system and a sense of urgency and turned them into the stingiest unit in the league.  Lou Lamoriello in turn secured goalie Robin Lehner who is in the midst of a hockey epiphany.  Fine performances from the Islanders defense and Lehner were on full display Friday evening at Barclays Center.  Through sixty minutes of regulation time Lehner and Carolina's Petr Mrazic performed superbly matching each other save for save - pitching shutouts if you will.

Overtime be damned ...

GAME ONE

Hurricanes  1

Islanders     0

overtime

I'm quite certain the Hurricanes will encounter a very different Islanders team come game two at Barclays Center on Sunday.  Islanders forwards out shot Carolina forward lines by a 26-22 margin.  However, the Hurricanes got ten shots on goal from their defense; the Islanders just five.  That tells me the Isles blue liners are staying home, while the Canes are not averse to taking risks.  A big question is can the Islanders capitalize on Carolina's over aggression.

Now that the home team has lost a game there is a genuine series to be played.  I know this: ten days of practice simply can not replicate the speed and urgency of playoff hockey.  And so in game two I believe the series narrative begins undergoing a dramatic shift.

N.Y. Islanders Complete Sweep of Penguins

From the desk of:  THE BARRY TROTZ PAJAMA PARTY

Long Island Crowd Deserves to Have Islanders 

Remaining Games Played at Uniondale Barn

NHL PLAYOFFS ~ ROUND ONE

ISLANDERS SWEEP PENGUINS

I - NYI 4; PITT 3*

II - NYI 3; PITT 1

III - NYI 4; PITT 1

IV - NYI 3; PITT 1

New York Islanders: The Wizard of Trotz Makes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin Disappear.

Trailing the Islanders by a goal, the Penguins pulled Matt Murray in the waning minutes of regulation.  But even their best laid plans would be short lived.  Josh Bailey's empty netter with 37-seconds left effectively put the Penguins season to rest.

The joint was jumping very soon after the opening face-off.  Pittsburgh's PPG Watercolor Igloo Arena popped with Penguin mania when Jake Guentzel scored just 0:37 into the game.

Then ... a collective gasp, and deafening Steel City silence.

At the 2:09 mark, Jordan Eberle's fourth goal of the series tied the game, leaving the crowd fit to be tied.  If that weren't bad enough, the Penguins broke one of hockey's cardinal rules: never give up a goal in the last two minutes of a period.  Brock Nelson did just that, scoring his third goal of the playoffs at 18:06 of the first.

The Isles finished the game minus the services of blue liner Johnny Boychuck and winger Cal Clutterbuck.  Ideally speaking, eliminating the Penguins in quick fashion will allow them both time for recovering from bumps and bruises incurred during game four.

This season's stingiest defense allowed the Penguins just six goals through four games; none generated from the stick of Sidney Crosby.  The Penguins captain managed no shots on goal in game four, and was limited to a mere six shots on goal all series.  Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle joined on seven shots on goal in game four alone.  Crosby's lone point came on an assist in Tuesday's finale.  Evgeni Malkin managed 11 shots on goal (2.7 shots per game) but just one goal and a pair of assists.

Jordan Eberle is skating like a man possessed, tallying four goals and two assists in four games against the Penguins.  Josh Bailey added another three goals.

Goalie Robin Lehner faced 136 shots on goal through four games, stopping 130 of them.  In game four, he faced 33 shots and stopped all but one.  He even engaged in some pushing and perhaps maybe threw a punch or two.

As reward for their series win, the NHL is evicting the Islanders from the Barn at Uniondale, and forcing their return to Brooklyn.  I've always believed the Islanders belong on Long Island.  And so I feel for their fans whom must now forgo tailgating, for sake of trekking back to Flatbush Avenue.  It's an injustice to say, well, it was good while it lasted.  Through the latter part of the season and every game since, Long Island poured their soul back into hometown hockey.

In the meantime, the New York Long Islanders of Brooklyn await the winner of the Washington Capitals/Carolina Hurricanes series.

No Sleep Till Belmont.

N.Y. Islanders: Reeling Pens on the Brink of Elimination

From the desk of:  THE BARRY TROTZ PAJAMA PARTY

HAPPY DAYS!

Islanders lead series; 3-0

I - NYI 4; PITT 3*

II - NYI 3; PITT 1

III - NYI 4; PITT 1

IV - TUE. @ PITT

New York Islanders: Sidney Silenced Again; Penguins All But Done; Isles Fans Reaching for their Brooms.

Any remaining questions as to whether Barry Trotz' system would translate into the playoffs are being answered and put to rest once and for all.  Consider the issue a moot point.  The Islanders  commanding 3-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins says so.

Through three games, Sidney Crosby has been limited to just six SOG and no points in well over sixty minutes of ice time.  Phil Kessell, who leads the Pens in shots on goal, was limited to just one shot in game three.  Even Evgeni Malkin is being marginalized as the series progresses.  He went from tallying two points in game one; to registering one point in game two; to no points on just one shot on goal in game three at home.  Said another way, the Islanders are outright punishing the Penguins and it doesn't seem to matter whether the setting is Long Island or Pittsburgh.

Any lingering questions regarding Robin Lehner are also being put to rest.  Playing on a one year deal, he wound up having one of the best regular seasons of his nine year career, while playing the most significant hockey of his career.  He is now participating in his first playoff since twice coming out of the bullpen for Ottawa during the 2012-2013 playoffs.  Through three games Lehner has now faced 103 SOG, and stopped 98 (.951) of them.

Meanwhile, the skaters in front of him have played fast, furiously, and physically, and are scoring with plenty.  Through roughly 185 minutes of play, the Islanders have so far outscored the Pens eleven goals to five.

Pittsburgh's Garrett Wilson opened the scoring at 12:54 of the first period.  And with regard to the Penguins, that's all she wrote.  Within the next minute and a half, the Islanders would tie the game on Jordan Eberle's third goal of the playoffs, then take the lead at 14:24 on Brock Nelson's second goal of the playoffs.  After a scoreless second session, the Islanders put the Penguins on ice.  Leo Komarov scored midway through the session. Anders Lee finished em off with 1:28 left in regulation.

N.Y. Islanders: Off to Pittsburgh With 2-0 Series Lead

From the desk of:  BARRY TROTZ PAJAMA PARTY

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2018-2019

PLAYOFFS

Isles lead series; 2-0

I - NYI 4; PITT 3

II - NYI 3; PITT 1

III - Sunday @ PITT

Look What the Long Islanders Did to the Penguins ... Again!

After skating through a scoreless first period, Pittsburgh struck midway through the second when Erik Gudbranson converted an Evgeni Malkin feed at the 10:26 mark.  Less than three minutes later Anthony Beauvillier tied the score with assists from Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle.

The third period was all Islanders.  Eberle put his team ahead at 7:54 off another assist from Barzal and help from blue-liner Johnny Boychuk.  If that wasn't good enough, there's this:  The Islanders scored a power play goal.  That's right!  Josh Bailey effectively sealed the deal at 11:38 with assists from Anders Lee and Devon Toews.

Sealed the deal with over nine minutes left?

Yep.

There's a reason why the Islanders were the lone NHL team to keep their opponents under 200 goals this season.  With nary a change in roster, thank Barry Trotz and the defensive system he put in place.  Through two games now, Sidney Crosby (on the heels of a 100-point season) has been limited to just three shots on goal and zero points in over 40-minutes of ice time.  That said, they better keep their eye on Phil Kessel who through two games now has 12 shots on goal.

Then there's Robin Lehner.  Whether or not he's the answer to the Islanders goal tending prayers of the last few years remains to be seen.  But where would they be without him?  He has so far faced 77 shots and stopped 74 of them for a .948 save percentage and a 1.93 GAA through the first two games.  In 46 regular season appearances, he posted a .930 save percentage and a 2.13 GAA.

No John Tavares; no problem.  Under Trotz, the Islanders have gone from an 80-point non contender last season, to a 103-point team poised to exact revenge upon the Penguins, whom eliminated them in the first round of the 2012-2013 playoffs.

N.Y. Islanders: Thomas Greiss Leads Washington Filibuster

From the desk of:  NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

First Place - Metropolitan Division

Tied Second - Eastern Conference

FRIDAY

Islanders   2

Capitals     0

FINAL

New York Islanders: Look Who's Number One..!

A January Metropolitan Division battle for first place, Barry Trotz leads his new team on the road against his old team, and sees the Islanders through to a 2-0 whitewashing of the Capitals.  The victory gives them a point more than both the reigning champions and Columbus Blue Jackets, along with sole possession of first place.  With a 26-15-4 record, they now have 60-points to be exact, tied for second most in the conference with the Toronto Maple Leafs, no less.

Are the Maple Leafs better with John Tavares, or are the Islanders better without him?  On this day, the Isles have it.

Considering their defensive and net minding struggles over the last few years, the Islanders this season have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL.  Barry Trotz has a lot to do with that, but so does the goalie tandem of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss.  Lehner, the 28-year old former Senator/Saber is so far having a career season with the Isles.  After 25 appearances, he is 14-7-3, with an NHL best 2.11 GAA.  His .928 save percentage ranks second in the league.  Meanwhile, Thomas Greiss is 14-8-1 after 26 appearances, with a 2.50 GAA.  His .920 save percentage ranks top ten.  He faced just 19 shots during Friday's 2-0 shutout of the Capitals

• Combined Stats:  28-15-4 record; .924 save percentage; 2.30 GAA; 4 shutouts.

The Islanders are now winners of four in a row, and 12-2-0 over their last 14 games, which includes last Sunday's 5-1 drubbing of the Eastern Conference leading Tampa Bay Lighting.

*

The Washington Capitals honored Barry Trotz with a touching video tribute, the crowd likewise showered him with applause, respect, and appreciation for the coach whom just one short season ago guided Washington to their one and only Stanley Cup victory.