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Islanders fans: Why you need to get your finger off the panic button

By Michel Anderson|
Oct 30, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the New York Islanders at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the New York Islanders at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

It’s seven games into the season, and a section of New York Islanders fans are looking for the panic button. Of course, the first two games of the regular season were terrible, but since then the Islanders have bounced back pretty well.

After those two regulations losses to start the season, the Isles are 3-0-2. Sure, that only accounts for eight points through seven games (a 0.571 points percentage), and ranks the Isles seventh in the eight-team Metropolitan Division, but this isn’t the time to panic.

New York Islanders fans: Don’t hit panic button

Consider that the Islanders are on a road trip to start the year. And if we know anything about the NHL it’s that winning on the road is quite hard to do. The rules themselves are already stacked against the visiting team.

Look back to the last full NHL season (2018-19), 18 of the 31 teams in the league held an away record that was 0.500 or better. And by “0.500”, I’m talking about points percentage. Now let’s take that one step further.

With a 3-2-2 record on the road this year, the Islanders hold a 0.571 points percentage. Again, looking back at the 2018-19 season, only ten teams held a road record that was better than the Isles 0.571 right now:

  • Tampa: 0.756
  • Calgary: 0.610
  • Washington: 0.610
  • Islanders: 0.622
  • Toronto: 0.634
  • Nashville: 0.585
  • Pittsburgh: 0.610
  • Carolina: 0.573
  • St Louis: 0.598
  • Columbus: 0.634

Holding a 0.571 point percentage is good. Now consider the fact that the New York Islanders haven’t exactly been “good” on the road since Barry Trotz took over.

Since 2018-19, the Isles are tenth in the NHL with a 118-68-23 record or 262 points. On the road, the Isles hold (again since 2018-19), a 53-41-10 record or 119 points. Less than half (45%) of their points come from the road.

My point; take the finger off the panic button. You might not like how things are going with the New York Islanders but with a 0.571 points percentage so far, it’s what anyone should have expected before the puck was dropped on the season.

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