An Islanders Switch To A Conventional Power Play Could Produce More Positive Results
The Islanders are not only 4-for-50 on the power play, but they've allowed two shorthanded goals and too many shorthanded chances against.
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THE SKINNY & ISLANDERS NEWS
Before we get to the Islander's defensive struggles on the power play, here are Islanders news links & “The Skinny” from Eric Hornick (Brendan Burke and Butch Goring’s MSG Networks statistician). The site is updated after each game with incredible statistics and facts.
Hornick Gems: The Isles scored twice in the second period for the second straight game; all seven of their middle-period goals have been scored on the road
Check out much more at Hornick’s The Skinny: Rangers 5, Isles 2
Islanders On The Lookout For Left-Side Defenseman, Three Trade Possibilities - THN
With Barzal Out, Wahlstrom Gets Yet Another Chance To Prove His Worth To Roy
Islanders Offensive Struggles Don't Just Fall On Forward Group - THN
Islanders Brock Nelson, Anders Lee & Bo Horvat Remember Johnny Gaudreau - THN
Islanders Goalie Ilya Sorokin Breaks Another Career Record As Hot Start Continues - THN
Islanders & Their Battle With Mental Toughness: 'We Have To Find A Way To Calm Down The Play - THN
Patrick Roy Has His Hands Full Managing Bruised & Battered Islanders Blueline
NEW YORK, NY -- New York Islanders defenseman Samuel Bolduc did not make the team out of training camp.
But he drew in against the Rangers due to injuries. Ahead of the game, Patrick Roy said this about what he wanted to see:
"I want him to play with some awareness, knowing who's on the ice, and make good decisions with the puck. If his first touch is good, I know he's gonna have a good game. So the first touch will be very important."
Bolduc's start to the game, skating alongside Hutton, was good.
He played 4:33 in the first period, taking seven shifts.
Unfortunately for Bolduc, an awareness mistake in the opening minute of the second period directly led to Vincent Trocheck giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
"It's sad. Those things happen, but Sam [Bolduc] needs to be better if he wants to play in the NHL," Roy said. "He's got to understand [that] and step up. "He's a good hockey player. He's got all the tools. Now, he just needs to figure it out. But he needs to be better if he wants to play for us."
Read more at The Hockey News.
Shorthanded Islanders Lose Special Teams Battle, Fall 5-2 To Rival Rangers
NEW YORK, NY -- The New York Islanders lost the special teams battle, allowing a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal in a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon.
They spoiled another impressive performance by Ilya Sorokin, who stopped 35 of 39 shots and made one impressive save after another to keep the game as close as he could.
With three starting defensemen out, Samuel Bolduc and Grant Hutton played. Bolduc did not play most of the final 26:50 after a costly mistake in the second.
Read more about how the game unfolded at The Hockey News.
Islanders Special Teams Holding Them Back From Finding Consistency; What’s The Solution?
A power play can make or break a team. Right now, the Islanders’ power play is doing the latter.
The Islanders’ power play went 0-for-5 in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, and it is now 5-for-40 on the season (12.5%).
“You have five power plays. You’d like to cash in on one,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “I think there's nothing more to say about that. I think when we bring it to the net, we create chances. We definitely had some looks, but Shesterkin made some great saves, as well.”
It’s one thing for the power play not to score. It’s another thing for the power play to allow shorthanded goals like Chris Kreider’s, which opened the scoring after a Noah Dobson giveaway.
That was the second shorthanded goal they allowed this year, the other being an empty-net tally, a 6-on-4 advantage late in their 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Per NaturalStatrick.com, the Islanders, not including the empty-netter, have allowed 11 shots against when on a 5-on-4 power play and seven scoring chances.
With all the injuries, the power play’s current structure leaves few options for success.
Although it’s not ideal for a team to worry about defense with the man advantage, it’s something the Islanders have to worry about.
I think it’s time for them to change their strategy.
Instead of running a 4-1, with four forwards on the ice and Dobson at the point on the top unit, it may be time to change to a 3-2.