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New York Islanders Three Keys To Win Against Ottawa Senators

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders skates against the Ottawa Senators at the Barclays Center on December 28, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Senators 6-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders skates against the Ottawa Senators at the Barclays Center on December 28, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Senators 6-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 21: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on September 21, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Power Play

The Islanders have had a hard time generating power play opportunities. With 13 power-play opportunities, they rank last in the NHL, by a healthy margin. The 30th ranked team has 25 power-play opportunities, nearly double.

Maybe against Ottawa, they’ll get their chance to give the power play unit some practice.

The Senators are a young inexperienced team. Young inexperienced teams typically take a lot of penalties. The Senators have been short-handed 40 times this season already, that ranks as the fifth most in the NHL.

The Islanders should be able to find a way to get that third-ranked power play out on the ice against the Ottawa Senators.

That is, of course, assuming the referees decide to call penalties against the Ottawa Senators when the New York Islanders are on the ice.

Recently, we’ve seen countless examples of easy calls being blatantly ignored by officials. High sticks to the face that make Mathew Barzal look like Kylie Jenner. Trips on Adam Pelech in front of officials. Or even cross-checks to the neck of Derik Brassard. All were ignored.

Maybe now that we’ve all noticed the refs will start calling things?

The Islanders haven’t relied on the power play to win, but eventually, that’s going to change. If they get the opportunity to go on the man-advantage tonight they need to use it. Even if it’s going 1-for-5 (20 percent).

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It’s been a while since the New York Islanders have won six in a row, tonight is going to be as good of a chance as any. If they can play a full 60, get that first goal, and use the power play to their advantage, they should get their sixth ‘W’ in a row.

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