Islanders: Three Takeaways from 4-3 Overtime Win at Boston

2 of 3

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

The New York Islanders had to fight back from going down 2-0 in the first period on Thursday to claim their two points, and they just did that.

Like has happened quite often recently, the New York Islanders fell behind in Thursday’s opening frame at the Boston Bruins. But, like another emerging trend, the blue and orange battled back over the next 40 minutes, eventually grabbing the two points on another Anthony Beauvillier overtime winner.

Here are three takeaways from the comeback in Boston.

1. Semyon Varlamov Had an Off-Night

We hadn’t seen Semyon Varlamov in a while. Ilya Sorokin started Saturday’s 6-1, and Monday’s 2-1 victories over the Philadelphia Flyers, the first consecutive starts of his NHL career, and Varly was allowed some rest during the week. The six day break is among the longer ones Varlamov has had all season, and so perhaps some rust was to be expected.

Whatever the case was, whether it was rust, not seeing the puck well, or something else, Varlamov struggled in the first period with what should’ve been a couple routine shots. Boston’s two opening frame goals came from a virtually identical position, just above the left face-off circle, from shots by Karson Kuhlman and Steven Kampfer.

Varly’s three goals allowed on Thursday came off of two low-danger shots from the left half-wall with some traffic in front, and a broken play on a shot from directly in front of the net.

The third was obviously less on him than the first two. That goal, scored by Anders Bjork, was the product of multiple defensive breakdowns by the Islanders. Adam Pelech failed to recover a Bruins dump-in to his corner, then Casey Cizikas couldn’t corral the loose puck, and finally, Brock Nelson totally blew his assignment on Bjork, leaving the Bruins winger wide open in the low slot.

Whatever the issue with Varlamov was, he did well to clean it up after the first period. He still looked to be fighting the puck most of the night thereafter, not comfortable and locked-in in his crease as he normally looks, not tracking the puck well. But, when it came down to it, he made enough saves to keep the Islanders in striking distance, and strike they did.

Oliver Wahlstrom #26 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Oliver Wahlstrom’s Scoring Streak Continues, + Third Line Productivity

We all love Oliver Wahlstrom right now, right? I mean, the Islanders rookie has five points (3G, 2A) in the last four games, has the highest Individual Expected Goals per 60 minutes of any active member of the team, and the highest Individual Fenwick For per 60 as well.

Islanders fans have talked a lot about Wahlstrom’s plus shooting ability. He’s a dangerous shot from seemingly any place on the ice, and as the aforementioned numbers state quite clearly, he’s not afraid to launch that shot.

Wahlstrom picked up another goal on Thursday, burying the go-ahead goal that put the Islanders up 3-2 with a little under three minutes remaining in regulation. He again showed little restraint in letting that shot fly, as he and lineman J.G. Pageau finished tied in iCF, or Individual Corsi For, for the night.

Though you could argue that Wahlstrom’s success this season has been a bit lucky, and that argument has its merits such as a 33% S% on this four-game run. But it’s been just as much about shooting skill and a high IQ in the offensive zone, traits that Wahlstrom has carried over from his amateur days.

Obviously, shooting 30% isn’t sustainable. Right now, pucks are going in for the kid at a higher rate than they will down the line, but positioning himself in the dangerous areas and continuing to use that release will make him a perennial scoring threat, even without the puck luck he’s seen of late.

But what about the line Wahlstrom currently plays on? I haven’t given that trio enough love in these three takeaways pieces, and that’s going to change because I absolutely love the way that line is going right now.

Barry Trotz shuffles lines a lot, but it isn’t often he finds the kind of production Wahlstrom, Pageau, and Anthony Beauvillier have given him and his team. That line was again one of the two best that the Islanders iced on Thursday, taking home nearly 60% of total shot attempts, and almost 78% of the xG share at 5v5.

Anthony Beauvillier, mired in a long rut for most of 2020-21, looks reinvigorated by his new linemates and deployment situation. He, Pageau, and Wahlstrom have formed a dynamic line for this team that is not only dangerous in the offensive zone, but responsible in the defensive too.

I really can’t say enough good things about what these three have brought to the table for the Islanders over the past few games. They’re engaged in the play defensively, make good decisions with the puck, forecheck well, and are getting looks from the dangerous areas offensively.

They’re the sort of boost this team has needed with Anders Lee out, and Trotz still trying to find a top line left wing that will work alongside Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle.

Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. Anthony Beauvillier is Contributing Again

Anthony Beauvillier is an enigma to me. By that I mean it’s often difficult to say which version of Beau you’ll get on any given night. He has these streaks of brilliance that make me believe he could be a consistent 45-point player at the NHL level. But if there’s anything enigmatic about Beau, it’s his consistency or lack thereof.

Just like he goes on those hot streaks, he also disappears for long stretches that are worthy of taking out an ad on the back of a milk carton. When he’s cold, I find myself thinking Beau may just turn out to be a top-nine winger who’s good for 15-20 goals a season. That’s nothing to sneeze at, either. I had the same opinion of Brock Nelson early in his career.

When he’s hot, I think Beau can for sure be a top-six NHL’er.

I’m not sure which version of Beauvillier I’m sold on exactly, but what is plain to see is right now he’s in the midst of one of those hot streaks. Tito has goals in three consecutive games, with the latter two being overtime winners. He’s the second Islander in history with overtime winners in consecutive games, according to Islanders statistician Eric Hornick.

What I like more though is how Beauvillier is meshing well with his new linemates. As I said earlier, that third line out-chanced and out-attempted their Bruins opposition on Thursday. They were one of the most-consistently positive lines in the game for the Islanders, and Beauvillier played a role in that from a puck-carrying and puck-retrieving perspective.

I’m interested to see if Beauvillier can find some semblance of stability with Wahlstrom and Pageau. Like I said, when Beau’s on I like his chances to top out as a top-six winger, when he’s not on, I find he looks more like a top-nine, or middle-six. Right now, even though he’s playing top-nine minutes, he’s turning in top-six performances, and I hope that continues because he is one of my favorite Islanders.

Home / Editorials