Eyes On Isles
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Islanders: Five questions that need answering after the all-star break

BySalvatore Marinello|
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 07: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders and the rest of his teammates celebrate the overtime win over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 07, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey.The New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 07: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders and the rest of his teammates celebrate the overtime win over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 07, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey.The New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – JANUARY 14: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal at 3:59 of the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on January 14, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – JANUARY 14: Josh Bailey #12 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal at 3:59 of the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on January 14, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

4. Will the power play improve?

The New York Islanders are 19th in the league with a PP% of 19.5 percent. It’s much better than last season’s 14.5 percent efficiency. But lately, the power play has been falling back on bad habits from 2018-19.

Watching their power play lately is maddening and frustrating because it looks like we are back to last season, a lot of passing and cuteness without a lot of high shot potential. What is really frustrating to me is that the power play looked good the first month of the season, only to regress and look terrible since.

Here is a prediction. This team as structured will not go deep in the playoffs with a power play that looks as weak and feckless as it does right now.

Sure, changing the coach to Jim Hiller has improved PP statistics from the bottom of the NHL last season to the middle of the league this year, but unless this team improves on the PP they will struggle in the playoffs.

The question is, can the power play improve with this group of players? Which brings us to question number five.

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