Islanders best current and all-time shootout lineup

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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores the shoot-out game winner against Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 11, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Penguins defeated the Islanders 4-3 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

With a recent shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, I decided to look at who are the better shootout players on the New York Islanders roster today and of all time.

Last night the New York Islanders lost in a shootout to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby was the only player to get the puck in the net for either team.

Not only did none of the Islanders three shooters (Eberle, Barzal, and Bailey) not find the back of the net, they generally didn’t look great in their approach to the non-hockey portion of the contest.

It seems likes a growing trend that the Islanders aren’t great in the shootout. Which is true. Over the last five years, the Islanders rank 22nd in shootout win percentage at .448 (13 wins over 29 opportunities).

Oddly enough that hasn’t always been the case. According to NHL Records, the New York Islanders have the second most shootout wins in NHL history with 82. Before last night, there was actually a two-way tie for the top spot between the Islanders and Penguins. With the win, the Penguins passed the Islanders to claim the top spot.

So, with last night’s shootout loss still fresh in our minds and now knowing the Islanders are one of the best shootout teams in NHL history, I wanted to do two things. First, I wanted to look at the best possible shootout roster from the current lineup (maybe I’ll find out what’s going wrong). And second, I wanted to find some of the best shootout specialists in Islanders history.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 09: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Current Lineup and the Shootout

Yesterday Barry Trotz sent out Jordan Eberle, Mathew Barzal, and Josh Bailey (in that order) to try and secure the second point against Pittsburgh. Is that the best possible shootout lineup? You might not think so, but according to conversion rates in the shootout, it is.

Here’s the trio’s efficiency in the shootout over their careers:

Eberle 25/70 = 35.7%
Barzal 6/19 = 31.6%
Bailey 10/31 = 32.3%

Here’s how the rest of the forward line stacks up :

Nelson 6/19 = 31.6%
Cizikas 1/3 = 33%
Clutterbuck 2/10 = 20%
Komarov 0/1
Lee 0/4
Martin 0/2
Pageau 0/1

Clearly, Trotz went with his best shootout lineup. I would imagine Brock Nelson would have been the fourth shooter if the team needed one.

The percentages for some of the Isles top shootout players look low but even some of the better players in the league sit at around 40%. Guys like Sidney Crosby and Elias Petterson sit at 40.2% and 38.9% respectively.

The fact that Anders Lee has four shootout attempts over his career and hasn’t converted on a single one doesn’t look great but consider the type of goal scorer Anders Lee is. You don’t expect him to stickhandle his way through four defenders and then pull off a gravity-defying deek to get the goal. He’s a power forward whose bread-and-butter is in front of the net.

I would imagine that the next time the Islanders find themselves in a shootout, Barry Trotz will alter who he sends out, slightly. Certainly, Eberle and Barzal will be out there, but perhaps Brock Nelson will be the third shooter.

Maybe by then, Anthony Beauvillier will be back and he can be the third shooter. Beau has two shootout goals in six attempts.

Maybe, and this is VERY hopeful, he’ll try Oliver “amazing hockey player” Wahlstrom who’s been scoring incredible shootout goals since he was nine.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 06: Kyle Okposo #21 of the New York Islanders reacts to his overtime shootout goal past Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings for a 2-1 win at Staples Center on November 6, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

All-Time Shootout Lineup

Now, how about the all-time list? Who are some of the best shootout players in Islanders history?

(Note: All that mattered to make the list here was if the player played for the Isles during the shootout era.)

Frans Nielsen Stands Alone

When you think ‘shootout’ and the New York Islanders your mind should immediately think of Frans Nielsen. The 2002 second-round pick by the Islanders was an absolute gem in the shootout.

Nielsen is not only the best shootout player in Islanders history he’s one of the best in NHL history. Since the shootout began in 2005-06 Nielsen is second in shootout goals with 49 (Jonathan Toews is first with 50). Frans also has the most shootout deciding goals with 23 (T.J. Oshie is second with 20).

This is Frans’s official stat line according to the NHL; 49 goals on 105 shots for a 46.7% efficiency. Incredible.

Here’s a who’s who of top shootout players that once dawned the blue and orange along with their career shootout stats line (goals, game-deciding goals, and efficiency).

PA Parenteau (20G, 11GDG, 43.5%)
Brad Boyes (39G, 12GDG, 44.3%)
Robert Nilsson (8G, 3GDG, 40%)
Jeff Hamilton (9G, 1GDG, 56.3%)
Viktor Kozlov (17G, 9GDG, 45.9%)
Rob Schremp (9G, 3GDG, 52.9%)
Jeff Tambellini (8G, 3GDG, 57.1%)

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