New York Islanders Daily: Defense Looking To Bounce Back

The New York Islanders poor defensive effort in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets was a big part of the reason for their meltdown.

The defensive breakdown on Saturday night was concerning, and something the New York Islanders need to address as soon as possible with the Capitals coming to town tonight. What caused this defensive breakdown?

Well, as coach Jack Capuano said “dumb decisions with the puck” were certainly the main cause.

Nick Leddy, a top pair defenseman made a crucial error that led to the Blue Jackets first goal of the third period. That opened the floodgates and the Jackets would add three more.

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Nick Leddy and Travis Hamonic aren’t working as a top pair. Just look at their +/- numbers, Leddy is -14 while Hamonic is -17. They have the bottom two +/- on the team.

Would a Johnny Boychuk and Leddy reunion fix the problem? I don’t know if the problem would be fixed just by doing that but I think those two worked better together. Hamonic is more a second pair d-man in my eyes anyway.

Capuano can shuffle up the pairings however he wants. It ultimately comes down to not turning the puck over, and that one’s on the players.

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