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Islanders: Three Takeaways from 2-1 Shootout Win over Bruins

By Ryan Grosso |
Feb 25, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) scores a goal against Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) scores a goal against Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Nick Leddy #2 of the New York Islanders checks Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Nick Leddy #2 of the New York Islanders checks Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Islanders defeated the Boston Bruins for the fourth time this season via a gorgeous shootout winner by Anthony Beauvillier. The win was the Islanders’ first outside of regulation in 2020-21, and it extended their winning streak to six games.

Here are three takeaways from the win.

1. The Islanders Failed to Contain the Bergeron Line

One of the recurring themes of previous games between the Islanders and Bruins was Barry Trotz’s reliance on the Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas lines to keep the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron line in check.

He stuck with that formula for Tuesday’s matchup, because if it isn’t broken you don’t fix it, right? Well, that’s sound enough reasoning, but the Bergeron line finally got the better of their Islanders opposition.

In terms of shots and possession, Bergeron and Co. out-attempted their opposition 13-0 when head-to-head at 5v5. That means the Bruins’ top line also dominated the xG department. After 40 minutes they had .52 xG vs the Islanders 0. That is probably best illustrated by the 5-1 Bruins high danger chances share.

The third period was decidedly low-event, and the Bruins played very conservatively due to the banged up defense corps they sported in Tuesday’s game. Even then, the Bergeron line matched their Islanders opposition 5-5 in total shot attempts. The Islanders got the slight edge in unblocked attempts, 3-2. Like I said, low-event.

Prior to the game, I tweeted a series of head-to-head stats featuring the Islanders and Bruins. The numbers said the Islanders have largely been a better team at 5v5, as they lead in most 5v5 categories with exception of some play-driving stats like Corsi and Fenwick. So, just to make me look foolish, of course the Bruins largely had the better of play at 5v5 on Tuesday.

The Bergeron line played a crucial role in that Bruins 5v5 play on Tuesday. Any time you can limit your opposition to no shot attempts against you through 40 minutes, and only five total attempts throughout regulation, you’re driving play very well.

It isn’t often that the Islanders are outdone at 5v5. They’ve been a very good team in that game state throughout Barry Trotz’s tenure. It also isn’t often that Islanders defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are contained in their own zone so thoroughly in a game.

Fortunately, the Islanders weren’t burned by the Bruins at 5v5 on Tuesday. They bent but didn’t break, as the saying goes, and crucially, were able to match the Bruins in special teams play.

Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Semyon Varlamov Posted Another Quality Start

The New York Islanders have been able to consistently rely upon Semyon Varlamov throughout 2020-21. From their five-game losing skid to this recent run of very strong play, Varly has backstopped the Islanders through most games, and done so with a great degree of quality.

Now, that isn’t to say Varlamov has been immune to a clunker here and there. There was a point not too long ago in which Islanders fans were becoming concerned Varlamov was fatiguing due to Barry Trotz riding his starter a little too hard.

While that concern was fair and justified, Varlamov’s start on Tuesday should serve to put some of those nerves at ease.

Varly was spectacular for the Islanders, saving 1.14 Goals Above Expected, including seven high-danger shots. Not the least of which was an absolute jaw dropper against David Krejci.

Tuesday’s start, which saw Varlamov post a .970 SV% by saving 32 of 33 SOG, was his 14th Quality Start of the 2020-21 season. Aside from the spectacular save against Krejci, he turned aside several shots from the inner slot against the Bruins best shooters in David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.

Right now there’s certainly a case to be made that Varlamov is en route to posting one of his best seasons in the NHL. His SV% and GAA certainly have looked that way during 2020-21, and most importantly his 3.49 GSAx, or Goals Saved Above Expected, has been trending upwards since late February.

Varly’s 2013-14 season was without a doubt his best in the NHL. He posted a .927 SV% and a ludicrous 19.14 GSAx over 60 starts and 63 appearances.

And yeah, that season will probably still be better than this one. Varlamov finished second in Vezina Trophy voting in that season with the Colorado Avalanche. He likely won’t get as close to the Vezina this year, as Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Vegas’s Marc-André Fleury are having ridiculous seasons for their respective teams.

But, that doesn’t really matter so long as Varly continues to play the way he has through his first 19 starts of 2020-21. If he and Ilya Sorokin can hold form through to the end of the regular season and beyond, the Islanders will have a chance at competing for the trophy that really matters anyway.

Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. It’s Time to Respect the New York Islanders

I know it isn’t worth getting worked up over, and I usually don’t, but seeing the New York Islanders get zero respect league-wide has annoyed me lately. Particularly, NHL media never seem to relent with their “oh, it’s just the Islanders” mindset.

I mean, the Islanders were not ranked in the top-five of NBC Sports’ NHL power rankings. Three Central Division teams ranked in the top-five according to NBC’s list, which isn’t altogether insulting because those three teams, the Lightning, Panthers, and Hurricanes, all appear to be very good this year.

Now again, I don’t generally care much about power rankings. Especially in a season in which there is no inter-divisional play, ranking teams league-wide just seems counter-intuitive and pointless. But really? Three Central Division teams are better than the team who currently appear to be the best in the East? The toughest division in the NHL bar none? I find it hard to believe is all.

Then there was The Athletic’s Sean McIndoe’s weekend rankings (subscription required), a list essentially akin to the NBC power rankings. McIndoe first praised Mat Barzal’s goal of the year candidate, then he went on to also leave the Islanders out of his top-five teams. And who did he put ahead of them? The Boston Bruins.

I mean, it’s as if beating a team four-straight times and outscoring them 14-5 in the process doesn’t make you better. Not even in this particular moment in time.

I get that the Islanders aren’t the most-exciting team on ice. I do, I really do. I understand there are other teams with undeniably more talent than the Islanders too. But, I mean, come on. What are we doing here? The Islanders are good. I might even hazard to say elite at this point. That’s not just opinion either, there is easily accessible statistical analysis out there to back that up.

To not only rank them outside your top-five while including a team in their division is just wild. And then to not only do that, but to antagonize the fanbase by saying you’re actively seeking to make them mad. Just, ugh. Where do I cancel my subscription to The Athletic?

Kidding, of course.

I actually like McIndoe’s work at The Athletic too. I enjoy Puck Soup, the podcast featuring him, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, and Elite Prospects’s Ryan Lambert. They rarely talk about the Islanders, and when they do it’s to mention how boring they are, or to dunk on Lou Lamoriello for mismanaging the salary cap last offseason. Still, I find the show funny, and I tune in almost every week.

I’m not going to stop reading McIndoe, The Athletic, or other publications that fail to give the Islanders their due. And generally speaking, I’m fine with the Isles floating under the radar, or being the butt of everyone’s jokes until they eliminate your team or make it further than them in the playoffs. That’s fine.

Now that my rant is over, I just want to say: I look forward to next week’s power rankings. Let’s go Islanders.

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