Islanders’ Power Play Costs Them Again In 3-0 Loss To Senators As Season Nears Brink
The Islanders’ power play faltered once again, allowing a shorthanded goal and going 0-for-5 in a 3-0 loss to the Senators. It’s a season-long issue that is defining their fate.
ELMONT, NY — The New York Islanders’ power play has been a constant thorn in their side the entire season. It’s one thing not to score. It’s another thing for the man advantage to become a weapon for the opposition.
For the second time in a week, the Islanders’ power play allowed a shorthanded goal, turning the tide of the game that was in their favor.
Earlier today, the Islanders had momentum right out of the gate when Anders Lee dropped the gloves with Brady Tkachuk for a rematch of their fisticuffs from a few weeks ago. The boys were buzzing, getting shots on goal, finishing checks. Even after Kyle MacLean took a roughing penalty that could have proved costly, the penalty kill came up large.
Then, with the score knotted at 0-0 despite the Islanders controlling the 5-on-5 game, they found themselves on the power play at 11:37 of the first period after Drake Batherson held Mathew Barzal.
Power play percentages don’t matter at any stage of a season. It’s about what you do in the moment that matters. And, as I already stated, for the second time in a week, the Islanders’ power play allowed a shorthanded goal, which not only took the life out of UBS Arena but ultimately led to Ottawa walking away with a 3-0 win.
“The shorthanded goal is on me,” Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo said after he couldn’t get to a loose puck at the Senators’ blue line before Ottawa scored shorthanded. “I gotta just decide to stay back there. I thought I had it, to be honest, and I didn’t get puck or body. So, I got to take responsibility for that shorty.”
Realistically, you need to score a goal to win a hockey game, so yeah, it was a bad mistake by DeAngelo, but the game wasn’t over. The Islanders continued to work, playing fantastic defense in what felt like a playoff game and getting some chances in a game where no team had much time and space.
And they got more power plays to right their wrong. The problem was they didn’t take advantage, going 0-for-5 on the power play with just three total shots.
Yes, Ottawa deserves some credit. They were very aggressive on the penalty kill. But there’s no question the Islanders had chances to score; weak zone entries, weak passes, and off-the-mark shooting gave them no shot to be effective.
This isn’t a little issue: It’s a big one.
The Islanders’ power play now sits at 16.8 percent, third-worst in the NHL. Today marked the fifth time this season that the Islanders’ power play went 0-for-5, going 2-3-0 in those games.
Their nine shorthanded goals against rank fourth-most in the NHL.
New head coach Pete DeBoer was honest when asked about the power play struggles:
“Listen, I’ve been here for a week, so we’re trying to do a lot of things, so I haven’t spent a lot of time on the special teams, either special team,” DeBoer said. “The concentrations have been on our 5-on-5 game. What I saw tonight was that the guys had a good plan, and we just didn’t execute. The other night, we went 2-for-5. There are obviously things we can do better, and those are momentum-changing moments. The power-play unit doesn’t always even have to score. You just want it to generate some momentum for you. And when they get the shorty, that’s a tough one.”
Ray Bennett was brought in from the Colorado Avalanche this summer in hopes that he could help fix a power play that’s struggled for ages. With the talent that they have, especially on the top unit — Matthew Schaefer, the quarterback, Mathew Barzal, the transitioner, Bo Horvat, who is one of the best bumper guys in the NHL, and as we’ve seen as the seasons progressed, a goal-line weapon in Cal Ritchie — there’s no reason this power play couldn’t be league average.
If it were league average, the Islanders would likely have clinched a playoff spot by now.
Regardless of how this season ends, the power play will be the No. 1 culprit in what had the makings of a special season.
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