New York Islanders Three Keys to Win Game Three

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 28: Curtis McElhinney #35 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends net against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 28, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Shoot on the Power Play

We’ve all been saying it since the start of the season, the Islanders need to shoot the puck on the man advantage. It seems odd to me that a point brought up in October still needs to be brought up in May. But here we are.

With a single power-play goal in six opportunities, the Islanders are converting on 16.6 percent of their power plays. That wouldn’t be good enough in the regular season, let alone the playoffs.

To change that efficiency, they’ve got to shoot the puck more frequently then they do.

Over the two-game series so far, they’ve had six power-play opportunities and had 12 shots towards the net (including missed shots). That’s a flat two shots per opportunity (again, including missed shots). Or one per minute of power play time.

That’s not enough. They’re standing around too much trying to get that perfect shot off. They need to create chances by directing the puck towards the net. It won’t result in a perfect goal, but at this point, the “greasy Islanders” need a greasy goal.

Something has to change on the power play.

We’ve already seen Barry Trotz go with Mathew Barzal on PP1 and place him down by the goal line on the left side. That isn’t a change that should have to have been made, but I’m glad it’s been done. Getting the Islanders best player on the main unit should result in more chances and thus more chances being converted.

It’s already paid off in game two with a goal coming off a Barzal seam pass.