Sansided
Eyes On Isles
Home/Editorials

New York Islanders: 3 Reasons They Have Success in 2018-19

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 05: Shane Prince #11 of the New York Islanders heads onto the ice before the game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Barclays Center on November 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 05: Shane Prince #11 of the New York Islanders heads onto the ice before the game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Barclays Center on November 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
new york islanders
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 24: Valtteri Filppula #51 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at Wells Fargo Center on October 24, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Fixes Around the Edges Work

The New York Islanders had great success in terms of going forward last season. With 261 goals-for they finished with the seventh-ranked offense in the NHL. Scoring goals wasn’t a problem for the Islanders.

Keeping pucks out of their own net was a whole different scenario. Their 293 goals against were the worst in the NHL last year. Sure, the goaltending tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss were a big reason, but the Isles a whole couldn’t defend.

The Islanders might not score a ton of goals next season. The new players they brought in with Matt Martin, Valtteri Filppula, Leo Komarov, and Tom Kuhnhackl combined for 23 goals in 2017-18. John Tavares had 37 last season.

Sure, the Islanders lost the 84 points that John Tavares scored last season, but they also brought in players that are competent bottom six players.

What these players will bring is a consistent defensive effort. Something the Islanders bottom six lacked in 2017-18. Not only 5-on-5 but on the penalty kill.

In 2017-18 the Islanders had the worst penalty kill in the NHL with a 73.2 efficiency. These players should help the Islanders better that result. It won’t be revolutionary, but even just league average could be enough.

If the Isles could finish with league average goal scoring, goals against and even penalty kill they could make the postseason.

That’s what Columbus did in 2017-18. With 236 goals for they ranked 17th, their 226 goals against were ranked 22nd, and their 76.2 percent PK was ranked 27th. And they ended the season in the first wildcard in the East.

facebooktwitterreddit