He’s been one of the most controversial players on the Islanders and now he’s on the board. Leo Komarov has scored a goal and the fans voted it as the goal breakdown this week. Thank you for voting and look out for another poll this weekend.

Despite lots of time on the first line, it took 29 games into the season for Komarov to score his first goal. It came at an important time, turning into the game-winner in a 4-0 win over the Rangers as Madison Square Garden. The victory stopped a three-game losing streak.

After retrieving a Rangers dump in, Nick Leddy turned on the jets and began a rush the other way. A pass to Jordan Eberle set up a cross-ice dish to Komarov. Leo picked the corner over Igor Shesterkin’s right shoulder and got the monkey off his back. Let’s break it down.

The play started when K’Andre Miller attempted a dump-in into the Islanders’ zone. Instead of the puck getting deep, Scott Mayfield knocked it down with his glove. He made a pass to his defense partner, Nick Leddy who started up ice against some tired Rangers. Leddy made a quick move in the neutral zone around a flat-footed Kaapo Kakko and got past a changing Mika Zibanejad. He entered the offensive zone near the left-wing boards with Eberle right next to him and Komarov on the right-wing boards. Leddy had the attention of defenseman Brendan Smith and the back checker, Alexis Lafreniére. Both continued to follow Leddy after the pass, giving Eberle time and space to make a play.

On the other side, Komarov snuck in unnoticed. Miller was the defenseman who should have covered him but he got caught watching the puck. Eberle saw him and sent a pass across the zone to him. Four Rangers all got caught on the wrong side of the ice covering two Islanders. Despite the time and space, Komarov opted for a one-timer to catch Shesterkin coming across.

As Shesterkin slid to face Komarov, Leo sent the shot back the other way. It perfectly found the corner before Shesterkin could react.

Leddy, Eberle, and Komarov perfectly executed a three-on-two rush and capitalized. If Komarov can put the puck in the net every so often, he’ll find himself with more minutes and he’ll be another threat in the Islanders’ lineup.

John Smark