Islanders three things to be thankful for in 2019-20

Happy Thanksgiving to you New York Islanders fans! What are you thankful for this season? Here are three things I’m thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving or as we call it here in Canada, Thursday. The New York Islanders have had one heck of a start to the 2019-20 season. It was a rocky start with a 1-3-0 record from their first four games. But they followed that up with a 17 game point streak.

The New York Islanders are second in the Metropolitan Division behind the Washington Capitals by five points with three games in hand. And with 34 points they’re also the fifth-best team in the NHL.

There’s a lot to be thankful for this season. I’ve narrowed it down to three things.

The Streak

From October 12 to November 23, 2019, the New York Islanders didn’t lose a single game in regulation. Over that span, they went 15-0-2 picking up 32 points from a possible 34. The streak brought national attention to the Islanders who are starving for national attention.

By the end of the streak, every power ranking had the Islanders at the very top. The Islanders were impossible to ignore.

I’m thankful for the streak on two fronts. First, it made anyone who was sleeping on the Islanders wake the heck up. Secondly, it brought some positive attention to the Isles. For a few weeks, the typical negative voices who regularly spout off on the Isles having two home arena’s were oddly quiet.

Barry Trotz

Coaching matters. Barry Trotz demonstrates that on a daily basis. He’s responsible for the inspired move to put Derick Brassard on the wing. Since being transferred to the wing, Brass is now on pace to score a career-high 61 points. He scored 23 points last season and already has 17 this season.

Trotz keeps the team accountable even when things are going well and tells it like it is when things aren’t going so well.

We no longer have to deal with Jack Capuano telling us the Isles just didn’t have puck luck. And we don’t have to deal with Dougie blowouts every week because Doug Weight had never coached at any level before getting the Islanders coaching job.

I’m thankful he’s behind the bench because it means the Islanders are ins safe and sure hands.

Anthony Beauvillier

He’s figured it out. At least it sure looks like he has. With eight goals and 16 points in 23 games, Anthony Beauvillier is on pace to score 29 goals and 58 points by the end of the season.

We’ve seen Beauvillier play at a near 60 point pace before, but it’s never looked this convincing. Even when Beau isn’t scoring or even in the offensive zone he’s doing something positive for the Islanders.

Want your voice heard? Join the Eyes On Isles team!

Write for us!

To be fair, that could have something to do with having the same coach in back to back years for the first time in his career.

It now seems that the top-six player the Islanders thought they had in Anthony Beauvillier has finally emerged and I’m thankful he’s arrived.