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Eyes On Isles
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New York Islanders Five Reasons 2018-19 Season Will be a Success

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of the arena during the game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of the arena during the game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 18: Johnny Boychuk #55 and Nick Leddy #2 of the New York Islanders in action against the New Jersey Devils on February 18, 2017 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Islanders 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Defensive Structure Works

Last season we saw how a poor defensive zone structure can affect a team. Whatever strategy Doug Weight was preaching in 2017-18 it didn’t work. At all.

Throughout the 2017-18 season, the New York Islanders would routinely bleed 40 or 50 shots a night. A barrage that just as frequently resulted in the opposition scoring four or five goals on the Islanders.

It’s hard to imagine that it was a result of the Islanders defensive personnel. While the Islanders did let in 264 goals in 2017-18 they are also the same core that let in 242 the year before that, and largely the same group that let in 216 two seasons ago.

This defensive core isn’t that bad.

Now add seasoned veteran bench boss Barry Trotz to the mix. His ability to marshal a defense alone will allow the Islanders to shed a number of goals against this season.

We know that the New York Islanders can score goals, they proved that last season. Sure Tavares is gone, but they can still score goals. Stopping them from going in is another question. With Barry Trotz behind the bench, they should be able to do that.

Even shedding 25 goals from their total goals-against, bringing it down to 239 goals against would help the Islanders push up the standings this season.

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