Islanders x-factor and winners in series win over Penguins

Winners

Anthony Beauvillier | 3G, 4A, 7 Points

Beau knows playoffs. For the second year in a row, Anthony Beauvillier leads the way for the New York Islanders in the postseason. Over the last two years, Beau has 21 points in 28 playoff games.

The only players with more playoff production on the Isles are his two linemates: Josh Bailey with 26 points and Brock Nelson with 24 points both in 28 games.

The kid who just loves to have fun absolutely loves the playoffs.

Oh, and remember, the Islanders have Beauvillier because of two draft-day trades in 2015. First, it was picking up a second-rounder from Edmonton in the Reinhart deal, then it was sending that second and a Florida second to Tampa for the 28th overall.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau | 1G, 6A, 7 Points

Imagine being someone who thought trading for Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a bad idea or not worth the cost. The amount of pie on that person’s face after a year-plus of Pageau doing everything he was doing in Ottawa would probably suffocate them.

The Islanders 2020 trade deadline acquisition has seven-point in six games against the Penguins and is the co-leader in production on the team.

His play on and off the puck has been vital to the Islanders system. Pageau has won 52.9% of his draws in the playoffs.  Only four players have taken more faceoffs in the playoffs and only one has a better success rate; Patrice Bergeron at 58.5%.

Adam Pelech | Kept Crosby silent

For the second series in a row, the New York Islanders have been able to keep Sidney Crosby quiet. Over six games in this series the Penguins captain had two points. Add his production from this series to the production he had in the 2019 series and Crosby has three points in ten games.

And Adam Pelech has a lot to do with that. No skater has more 5on5 ice time over the last two Isles-Pens series against Crosby than Pelech (67:07 in 2021 and 41:27 in 2019). Pelech is easily one of the better defensive-defensemen in the NHL, his ability to keep the second-best player in the NHL quiet over two series confirms that.