New York Islanders: 25 Bold Predictions For 2018-2019 Season

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: (l-r) Jordan Eberle #7, Anders Lee #27, Steve Bernier #8 and Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders celebrate Lee’s third period goal against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Barclays Center on September 20, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

13: Islanders allow less than 250 goals

Last year, the New York Islanders allowed the most goals in the league. It was a dumpster fire. The defense was bad while the goalie play was even worse somehow. Now, with a better coach, a better goalie tandem and hopefully more defensive structure the Islanders defense will be vastly improved.

296 goals was the final tally on the 2017-2018 season. Under Barry Trotz, that won’t happen. Last year Washington allowed 239 goals, and since 2014 Barry Trotz’s team hasn’t allowed more than 242 shots on goal.

Even if the Islanders roster isn’t as talented as the one’s Trotz has coached in the last five years, just by a change in philosophy the Islanders should be better in their own end.

249 goals or fewer seems like an obtainable goal for the Isles this year, and then hopefully you improve on that number going forward. Nick Leddy will be better this year, and Dennis Seidenberg not being on the ice should help as well.

Not to mention the two fourth lines should be better in their own end than what we saw from the Islanders’ bottom six last season.