Losing to the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 at home in Elmont, New York was very costly for the New York Islanders. This is a game they should have won but the loss was due to the fact they cannot score. This lack of scoring is evidenced by the fact they scored only one goal in the game against a bad team. Their lack of offensive talent means their defense and goaltending need to be perfect. If they are not the game will end in a loss, like it did last night.
The New York Islanders are hurting right now because of the injury to Anthony DuClair and now they must travel to Columbus to take on an emotionally charged Columbus Blue Jacket team. One thing is certain, if the Islanders score only once against Columbus they will suffer another loss.
A Costly Loss
This was a costly 3-1 loss. The game was at home and against an inferior team. A good team takes care of business in these games and gets points. The New York Islanders did not. In the last two games Anaheim played, they suffered losses to the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils.
The same ugly problems reared their heads in this game, despite changing coaches from Lane Lambert to Patrick Roy at the end of last season it is clear the coaching change has not had an effect. It would be reasonable to think that with an entire season of the new coaching staff, and a new special teams coach, this is the same old Islanders. They miss opportunities and let in power play goals. It seems like the other team scores almost every time the opposition has a power play. It would be a good thing, in this circumstance, to not take silly penalties, but this is not working.
Two Power Play Goals Allowed
The New York Islanders penalty kill is historically bad this season and they were the worst in the National Hockey League last year. Last season the Islanders became the first, and only, team in the National Hockey League to finish last in the penalty kill and to make the playoffs. This season the Islanders are killing only 71.5% of penalties this year after killing 73.2% of penalties last year. To give you some idea, a good penalty-killing team kills about 90% of penalties against them.
Mat Barzal Scored a Goal
This season Mat Barzal, who makes $8 million a year, and is skilled enough to lead the team, has five points and no even strength goals. He had three assists and two goals. His goal last night was on the power play, and maybe it will get him going. The New York Islanders need him if they are to avoid more losses.
Barzal’s goal was actually on a 5-on-3, or just after the 5 on 3 expired. This was good as the Islanders needed to covert that opportunity. Barzal ensured the Islanders converted. The power play for the Islanders is beleaguered as well, so scoring was good news. This was a silver lining to this awful game.
Scoring Summary
There was not much scoring in this game, which has become a theme for the Islanders. There were only four goals, but here they are. In the first period, Leo Carlsson scored a power play goal for Anaheim giving the Ducks a 1-0 first period lead. Troy Terry scored, also on the power play, for the Ducks to give them a 2-0 lead after the second period. Mat Barzal scored for the Islanders, on a power play, to cut the Anaheim lead in half at the beginning of the third period. Frank Vatrano scored an empty net goal for the Anaheim Ducks to ice the game. It was an ugly loss.
Conclusion
The New York Islanders let the Anaheim Ducks steal two points in this 3-1 loss. These are two points they will want come March. This was an embarrassing game for the New York Islanders. The Islanders were never in this game. Unfortunately, it was a costly loss. When a team kills that low of a percentage of power plays, it will cost them if they take untimely penalties. That was the case in this game.
On the upcoming schedule, the New York Islanders play a game on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, October 30. Then they travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on November 1. The Islanders play at the rival New York Rangers on November 3. The New York Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 5.
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