A look into the NY Islanders third period woes

We’re just past the quarter mark of the 2024-25 season, and the NY Islanders have accumulated 21 points and sit just outside playoff position. 

When the Islanders lost Mat Barzal, Anthony Duclair, Alexander Romanov, and Adam Pelech to injury within a few days of each other, it looked as if the season was doomed.

The Isles have managed to stay in the thick of things but could have themselves in a much better position if it wasn’t for their abysmal third period performances.

A third period calamity

If a hockey game was 40 minutes long, the Islanders would be among to teams in the league. But unfortunately for them, the final 20 minutes have been their downfall.

Through the first two periods the Islanders have a goal differential of +3 and +4 - within the top half of the league in both. But the third period, they’ve allowed 33 goals while scoring 20 - the worst differential in the league.

Perhaps the most glaring stat of all comes from Arthur Staple of The Athletic. The Islanders have held their opponents to one or fewer goals through the first two periods in 14 of their 22 games this season, holding a record of only 5-5-4 in those games. While much of the blame lies on the defensive mindset of the team, if they could manage a few more goals, there would be no need to cling on to a one goal lead.

Patrick Roy has said they team shouldn’t change the way they play, but there is an argument for it both ways.

The team is fantastic through two periods but awful in the final frame. They need to find a way to carry that play from the second period to the final stanza. But figuring out a way to do so seems to be the issue.