New York Islanders: Top 3 Surprises So Far In 2019

3 of 4

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 06: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal at 4:38 of the second period against Laurent Brossoit #30 of the Winnipeg Jets at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on October 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Power Play

Through eight games the New York Islanders power play is effective a third of the time. The Islanders currently hold the third-ranked power play in the NHL with four goals on 12 power-play opportunities.

Remember, last season the New York Islanders ended the year with the third-worst power play with a 14.5 percent efficiency. So the dramatic turnaround so early in the season, considering the Islanders have the same group of players staffing the power play, is remarkable.

To be fair, the Islanders power play through the first eight games of the 2018-19 season was pretty good with a 20.17 efficiency on five goals in 23 opportunities. There’s a precedence for the Islanders doing well on the power play early and then tailing off.

But with the way the Islanders power play ended the 2018-19 season, with two power-play goals in 24 opportunities over their last ten games, I didn’t it could be this good so soon. Especially not with the few opportunities they’ve been given.

Over eight games this season, the Islanders have 12 power-play opportunities. That’s the fewest in the NHL, by a considerable margin. The 30th ranked team has 18 power-play opportunities or 150 percent more.

This year the Islanders power play members look decisive with their passing. They look ready to have a shooters mentality. And, I can’t say this enough, their zone entries look cleaner.

Sure, the Islanders aren’t getting a ton of opportunities with only 12 power-play chances, but they’re being lethal with the chances they’re given. Jim Hiller is already proving to be worth his weight in gold so soon in the season.

Based on where the Islanders ended the season last season on the power play. And along with the lack of changes in the lineup, it’s surprising that they’re doing so well now.