New York Islanders 3 Takeaways from 3-1 Loss to Buffalo Sabres

2 of 4

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 04: Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders (l) celebrates his goal at 11:00 of the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning and is joined by Casey Cizikas #53 (r) at the Barclays Center on April 4, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Fourth Line Still Dominant

Every single night the New York Islanders fourth line goes out there and leaves it all out on the ice. Sure, they play a physical game, but that physicality is so efficient at creating possession that it also typically generates offense.

Against the Buffalo Sabres that wasn’t any different.

Seconds before the end of the first period, that fourth line (Cal Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas, and Matt Martin) was at it again. They were able to pin the Sabres into their own zone with a trademark forecheck.

All that work resulted in the puck changing hands from the Sabres to the Islanders. Clutterbuck quickly passed it to Matt Martin who dropped it for Cizikas who buried his 13th of the season.

Matt Martin earned his seventh assist (he’s on pace for 20 points, a career high) and Cal Clutterbuck earned his ninth assist (he’s on pace for 23 points).

We know what the New York Islanders fourth line are. We know what they do. But to generate the type of offense they’ve been able to do is incredible.

Going into the playoffs its exactly the type of depth scoring that sets teams apart when the game is separated by margins.