New York Islanders Three Positive Takeaways from First Three Games

2 of 4

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Anthony Beauvillier

Anthony Beauvillier has four points in three games for the New York Islanders. Remember how poor Anthony Beauvillier was last year? Let me remind you. It took Beauvillier 17 games to put up four points last season.

Something is clicking with Anthony Beauvillier early on this season. Maybe it’s the continuity with Leo Komarov, who has three points in three games. Maybe it’s having another french Canadian on the team and on his line.

Maybe it’s just another year under head coach Barry Trotz. We can’t forget that Beau has been in the league for years and has already had three different coaches.

Whatever it is, it’s working.

For two seasons now we’ve had to watch Anthony Beauvillier start the year with a whimper. In 2018-19 it was one point in his opening 16 games. In 2017-18 it was eight points in 32 games. That production got him sent down to the AHL for a few days.

Obviously, it won’t continue at this rate. Beauvillier isn’t all of a sudden going to become a 1.33 point-per-game player (that’s a 109 point pace by the way).

Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz were hoping that guys who had down years – like Anthony Beauvillier who had 28 points – could produce more this season. If the Islanders were going to be a better offensive team, guys like Beau would have to find another level.

So far, in this early season, Anthony Beauvillier has done that.