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Islanders Highlight: Anders Lee scores on pretty tic-tac-toe

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at NYCB Live at the Nassau Coliseum on December 10, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. The Penguins defeated the Islanders 2-1 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at NYCB Live at the Nassau Coliseum on December 10, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. The Penguins defeated the Islanders 2-1 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Anders Lee has been on a long scoreless streak for the New York Islanders. On Saturday, he broke that streak after finishing off a pretty play with his linemates.

Anders Lee is one of the best power forwards in the league. His 102 goals over the last three years for the New York Islanders ranks 14th in the entire NHL. That’s more goals than Evgeni Malkin, Artemi Panarin, and Jeff Skinner.

With five goals in his first 12 games in 2019-20, Lee was on pace to score 34 goals by the end of the year. It’s not 40 goals like he had back in 2017-18, but 34 goals are still right in Lee’s wheelhouse.

But after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 1, he’s been ice cold. Going into Saturday’s game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, Lee hadn’t scored in eleven games. But within a minute at home to Columbus, Lee gets on the scoresheet after some pretty play between he and his linemates.

Tic-Tac-Toe

If you’re Anders Lee you don’t care how you break that scoreless streak. Just get the puck in the back of the net. But give Lee some style points for burying this one on a tic-tac-toe play with Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey.

The goal just as much as the setup deserves a slow-clap. The understanding that these three players have of where each other is going to be is borderline telekinetic.

It was only a matter of time before Anders Lee was going to end that goalless streak. Over his last five games, Lee had 17 shots on goal. Over those five games, Lee has a team-high 15 high-danger chances.

We know that Josh Bailey and Anders Lee have chemistry on the ice. It’s been apparent for years. When they’re on a line together goals are scored. It’s just that simple.

Now that Lee’s got that goalless streak off his back, Lee can hopefully start putting in goals more consistently. At the moment, he’s on pace to score 21 goals. A return that would be his lowest since 2015-16 when he scored 15 goals.

They don’t have to be this pretty. So long as they start going in.

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