Islanders: 3 Players Who Are About To Have A Production Increase

Sometimes points don’t tell the full story. Obviously, goals and assists matter, and when looking at the New York Islanders goal total that needs to improve but oftentimes it’s not the complete story that we are being told by just those two metrics.

For example, would you say that Josh Bailey has been the best Islander so far this year? Well, he currently leads the team in points but if you dig a little deeper, it was really only two good games of the six that he’s had.

Right now, I have three guys circled who are about to break out. Combined they have just one point between the three of them but the production is about to come.

Anders Lee

Anders Lee has just one goal on the year in five games played. The Islanders were forced to ditch the Lee – Barzal – Palmieri line due to inefficiency on the second line so after a bit of a hot start, the line has cooled off as the Beauvillier – Nelson – Palmieri line has gotten hot.

Right now, Lee is fifth on the team in CF%, fourth in GF%, and sixth in HDCF%. Eventually, those chances are going to start to go in and the goal total will rise because of it. Remember how hot he was before the injury last year? Don’t worry he’ll be back.

Zach Parise

Zach Parise has been an analytic darling so far. He ranks second in CF%. first in xGF% and SCF% and third in SF%. How he hasn’t found the back of the net yet is just unlucky. So far, the line of Parise – Pageau – Wahlstrom has been the best line on the team as they have a 58.2 expected goals for percentage as a unit. He’ll continue to get his chances playing with Wahlstrom and Pageau, I’m not worried about Parise in the slightest.

Ryan Pulock

First of all, Ryan Pulock didn’t really produce point-wise for the Islanders last year and was extremely valuable to the team even without the production. Still, he’s someone who will find the scoresheet soon. Pulock is fifth in high danger chances for on the team (first for defensemen) and he has a 50.2 xGF%. Pulock’s Corsi numbers look ugly right now but that isn’t in the least bit concerning for me.

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Only Noah Dobson has more than one point to his name so far this season. The Isles d-core as a unit hasn’t started producing yet. Pulock’s numbers will come.