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Islanders: 5 things we learned in 16 game point streak

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: The New York Islanders celebrate their 4-3 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Barclays Center on November 21, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 4-3 in overtime and with the victory, (the Islanders are 15-0-1 since Oct. 12) extended their point streak to a franchise-record 16 games. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: The New York Islanders celebrate their 4-3 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Barclays Center on November 21, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 4-3 in overtime and with the victory, (the Islanders are 15-0-1 since Oct. 12) extended their point streak to a franchise-record 16 games. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders scores the game winning goal at 4:16 of overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Barclays Center on November 21, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 4-3 in overtime and with the victory, (the Islanders are 15-0-1 since Oct. 12) extended their point streak to a franchise-record 16 games. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Brock Nelson Is Even Better

With 25 goals and 53 points last season, Brock Nelson flourished into the second-line center the Islanders have been missing since Frans Nielsen left in free agency some three years ago.

As the bench boss for other teams, Barry Trotz always thought that Brock was being underutilized by the Islanders.

"“The first conversation was I thought he was a better player than just from afar,” Trotz said. “I didn’t see a lot of warts on Nellie when we had him and we got to know him. I thought they were missing out on what he could bring to the group. He knows how important he is to the group and he has embraced the responsibility of being a good player on a pretty decent team.”"

Last season, Barry Trotz was able to unlock that player buried by previous Islanders coaching teams. Nelson had a career year in assists (28), points (53), plus-minus (+20), and takeaways (54).

That play earned Nelson a fresh new contract from the Islanders. Lamoriello locked him up for six years at a $6 million AAV ($36 million total).

But we didn’t think Brock could get even better than his 2018-19 self? But over the streak, he’s shown exactly that.

Over the Islanders 16 game streak, Nelson scored six goals and added another ten helpers. Three of those goals were overtime winners. He led the team in shots-for with 46, had the highest ixG with 5.34, and has the most high-danger chances for with 33.

Somehow, Barry Trotz unlocked an even better version of Brock Nelson than we saw last season. It certainly helps that his linemates in Anthony Beauvillier and Derick Brassard are playing just as well, but Brock Nelson

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