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Eyes On Isles
Editorials

New York Islanders Three Way Too Early Hot Takes

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)
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) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 29: Head Coach Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals speaks during Media Day for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena on January 29, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Special Teams Are Top Tier

Penalty Kill

At some point, an NHL team is going to score a power-play goal against the New York Islanders. It hasn’t happened yet, but its bound to happen. The Islanders aren’t going to go 100 percent on the PK the entire season.

But as it stands right now the Isles penalty kill is at the top of the league, and so is it’s power play.

Remember, just last season the New York Islanders held the worst penalty kill efficiency in the league with a 73.2 percent efficiency. It was woefully terrible. But with Barry Trotz at the helm, the Isles PK has been revolutionized.

They don’t seem to be doing anything special out there, but here we are three games in and the Isles haven’t conceded a power-play goal.

Again, eventually, a team will find a way. But based on what we’ve seen so far, not many will. Last season the best penalty kill was the Kings with 85 percent. The Islanders can get close to that with an 83 percent efficiency this season.

Power Play

The New York Islanders power play is at a 27.3 percent efficiency. Good enough for eleventh in the league to date. Keep in mind that ranking has seven teams with a power-play efficiency above 40 percent.

A 27.3 percent efficiency is absolutely sustainable throughout the season. With the way Barzal, Lee and Bailey are playing, they absolutely will sustain in by the end of the season.

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