Islanders: Anthony Beauvillier with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey Makes Sense

Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Anthony Beauvillier is back working with the Islanders’ second line and that seems to make the most sense.

The New York Islanders had some interesting decisions to make when it came to the middle six. After practice yesterday, it seems like we found out what the Islanders’ second line is going to be in the playoffs.

Anthony Beauvillier went back to working with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. Out of everyone on the wing who could play in that role, Beau gives the most offensive upside.

In 68 games, he had 18 goals and 39 points. That’s a pace of 47 points and 22 goals, which would’ve been the best year of his career in goals and points if the season went a full 82 games.

When looking at Natural Stat Trick’s WOWY numbers, we see that Beau was more productive when he was with Nelson and Bailey vs without either one of those guys.

In 185:30 of ice time with Nelson and Bailey, he had a 45.64 CF%, a 52.04 xGF%, a 50.68 HDCF%, and a 47.88 SCF%. When Beau was without either one of those players, in 171:04 of ice time, he had a 43.77 CF%, a 41.63 xGF%, a 36.84 HDCF%, and a 40.80 SCF%.

What does all that mean? Well, essentially Anthony Beauvillier is more likely to be more offensive when he is with both Bailey and Nelson vs without either of them.

The other options, such as Andrew Ladd, Tom Kuhnhackl, and Ross Johnston don’t provide enough offensive prowess to justify putting them with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey who were second and third on the team in points.

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Line three still seems to be up in the air, with Tom Kuhnhackl, Andrew Ladd, Leo Komarov who just returned, Kieffer Bellows and Michael Dal Colle getting looks with Derick Brassard and JG Pageau. On Wednesday when the Isles faceoff against the Rangers in a tune-up game, we should get a better idea of what the lines are going to look like for the real thing.