Eyes On Isles
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Islanders v Canucks 3 takeaways from OT loss: Josh Bailey elite

ByMichel Anderson|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate a goal by J.T. Miller #9 against Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders at 2:09 of the first period at the Barclays Center on February 01, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate a goal by J.T. Miller #9 against Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders at 2:09 of the first period at the Barclays Center on February 01, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 03: Tom Kuhnhackl #14 of the New York Islanders lays on the ice after being hit by a teammates stick against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 03, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-2 and won the series, 4-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 03: Tom Kuhnhackl #14 of the New York Islanders lays on the ice after being hit by a teammates stick against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 03, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-2 and won the series, 4-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Third Line Issues Continue

One of the Islanders greatest strengths last season was the ability to roll out four lines with near-identical ice times. That isn’t the case this season. Thanks to the third line.

The Isles third line has been a virtual black hole of production. And today, they barely hit the ice.

Tom Kuhnhackl registered 6:47 of ice time and didn’t hit the ice for nearly half the game. His last shift ended with Vancouver’s third goal at 34:56 of regulation time.

Derick Brassard had a bit more ice time with 10:19. Unlike Kuhnhackl, he got ice time in the later portions of the game. Although barely. He had four shifts after the Canucks third goal. The longest shift was nearly a minute long at the 42:23 mark of the game.

Both Kuhnhackl and Brassard were -3 on the day.

Dal Colle was held to 10:12 of ice time. Although he sis score the Isles first goal, he rarely saw the ice after the Canucks third goal.

You can see the shift chart for today’s game here.

Something needs to change on the Isles third line if the blue and orange are going to string together some wins and even make some noise in the playoffs. While we’d all love Lou to bring in a top-line winger, the easiest solution is to get some reliable depth to play on the third line.

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It’s not a sexy option, but Lou might have to bring in some better bottom six players so that the Islanders can do what they did best last season, roll four lines.

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