New York Islanders Three Keys To Win Against Ottawa Senators

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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 14: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates the game tying goal by Anders Lee #27 against the St. Louis Blues at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on October 14, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Blues 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Score First

If the New York Islanders can come out flying and get that first goal in Ottawa they could very well win. So far this season, the Ottawa Senators are 0-4-1 when the opposition scores first. That’s right, they’re winless.

If the Islanders can get that first goal early, they could very well get the Senators out of the game before it even begins.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. The Ottawa Senators are relatively stingy in the first period. By relative, I mean, compared to how they play in the other two periods.

The Senators have allowed six first period goals against while allowing 13 in the second, and eleven in the third period. That volatility between the first and second could bode well for the Islanders.

We know that the Islanders haven’t been strong in the first period so far this season. The Arizona game aside, of course.

Perhaps the strategy will be to contain the Senators in the first period and then deal the death blow in the second period. The Islanders are stronger in the second, scoring nine goals in the second frame (they have six in the first and seven in the third).

With the Ottawa Senators being poor defensively in the second period and the Islanders being more offensive in the second it lines up well for the Isles if they can keep things at 0-0 going into the second frame.