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New York Islanders: We Need to Talk About Discipline

Nov 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; NHL referee Trevor Hanson (47) calls a penalty shot in favor of the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Vancouver Canucks at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Canucks 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; NHL referee Trevor Hanson (47) calls a penalty shot in favor of the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Vancouver Canucks at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Canucks 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Islanders are having some issues of late. But the lack of discipline they’ve shown of late is perhaps the worst.

It’s midway into the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders have already given up three power play opportunities to the Flyers.

Now add the other seven shorthanded opportunities they had against the Tampa Bay Lightning and we’re starting to see a team that just can’t stay out of the box.

Looking at the ESPN stats for special teams has the Isles ranked 8th in the league in terms of time short handed. Add the three from tonight and the Isles move up to third in the league.

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This was a team that just last season was ranked 27th in the league in terms of opponents power play opportunities with 232. At their current pace, they’ll hit 305. By 2015-16 standards that would have been league worse.

We’re talking about the Islanders bread-and-butter from last season. They were one of the least penalized teams and one of the most efficient on the penalty kill with an 84.5% efficiency.

Going a man down wasn’t the problem it is now. Now, this season the Islanders are an average (15th in the league) 81.5% on the PK.

Things clearly aren’t going their way recently. From the recent goaltender issues to their marquee free agent acquisition making himself comfortable on the third line with just a single point on the year.

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But this current streak of ill discipline isn’t going to fix anything. Their current situation is frustrating. But lashing out like a kid in a candy store is actually making things worse! Cooler heads need to prevail here if the Islanders are going to have any hope of righting the ship.

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