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New York Islanders 3 Takeaways from 5-2 Win Over Edmonton Oilers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers fights with Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders during the second period at the Barclays Center on February 16, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers fights with Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders during the second period at the Barclays Center on February 16, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 29: Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 29: Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Casey Cizikas Too Good For Connor McDavid

When the best offensive force in the NHL comes to town, coaches will often put a more defensive minded line out against them. That’s just how it goes in the NHL.

So it was no surprise when Barry Trotz put the Casey Cizikas line out against Connor McDavid’s line.

Edmonton Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock didn’t like it though. And rather than have Connor McDavid out against the imposing figures of Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Martin he kept his two-time 100 point player off the ice.

That’s an opposing coach preferring his once-in-a-generation offensive talent not play against the other team’s fourth line. That’s an incredible amount of respect shown to the Islanders fourth line.

We spend a lot of time focusing on how good the New York Islanders fourth line has been when it comes to generating offence. And for good reason. They’re all on pace for either a career year or for production that hasn’t been seen from them in years.

But they deserve a ton of credit for the way they play defensively as well. The Islanders fourth line starts an overwhelming majority of their shifts in the defensive zone (~60 percent).

That physical forechecking style is key in keeping opponents off rhythm in the Islanders zone. It forces turnovers and to get the puck going the other way. It works flawlessly and Ken Hitchcock wanted no part of it.

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