After a rough start to the 2021 NHL season, the Islanders rookies are leading New York to success.

At the Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders have been dominant. Their home-ice advantage has always been like a sixth player on the ice for the team. Even without fans in attendance for most of the season, the Islanders have still been able to find success.

Mat Barzal is the face of the Islanders’ franchise, but the Islanders’ recent success is not just attributable to him. The Islanders are getting an array of scoring.

Both Islanders’ goalies, Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin, have been tremendous for the team. Each goalie has proven themselves capable of standing on their head on a given night and carrying the Islanders on their back to get two points.

Crucial to the Islanders’ recent dominance has been the young guns. Noah Dobson, Oliver Wahlstrom and now Kieffer Bellows have been adding that much-needed scoring that the Islanders’ have desperately needed in the past.

Dobson is showing the potential to be a legitimate top-four defenseman. Playing with Andy Greene, he has been a sensational replacement for Devon Toews.

Wahlstrom is perhaps the biggest offensive threat for the Islanders. When he touches the puck, Islanders fans hold their breath. With the exception of Barzal, few players in recent history have had this ability on Long Island.

Bellows is the power forward the Islanders have needed since Anders Lee went down with an injury. With the Trade Deadline approaching, the Islanders could have their acquisition: Bellows.

The New York Islanders core group of players combined with rookies who continue to find their confidence has led to recent success from the team. And New York has the potential to lead to a scary sight to see for the rest of the NHL.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.