As the Islanders continue into the second half of their 82-game season, it is abundantly clear that the team struggles to dictate play against their opponents. When analyzing the Islanders’ first half of the season at the most simplistic level, the team’s games fall under two scenarios. At one end of the spectrum, there is an Islanders team that loses in an ugly fashion when they lose. Then, on the other end, there is an Islanders team that struggles immensely to close out games. The Islanders can rarely control an entire game and outmatch their opponent for 60 minutes. With Patrick Roy now taking the reins behind the bench, can the Islanders sustain a more consistent, aggressive style of play?

When looking at the Islanders’ goal differential throughout the entire season, it is in the negatives. In the Islanders’ wins this season, excluding shootout wins, the team has a positive goal differential of 33. However, in losses this season, again excluding shootout losses, the team has a negative goal differential of 52. Although the Islanders have a record over .500, the goal differential is concerning because it indicates that the team’s losses are blowouts. And, when the team wins, it is in a close game.

The Islanders have 20 wins this season; 13 of those wins are games in which the Islanders won by only one goal. Moreover, 65% of the Islanders’ wins this season have only been by a single goal. Furthermore, 30% of the Islanders’ wins this season have occurred in overtime or the shootout. Why is this concerning? Finding ways to secure two points in the NHL is vital. Whether the game is won in regulation or overtime, points are points. However, there is a degree of randomness that occurs after regulation. Because so many of the Islanders’ wins have been in close games, there is a strong amount of randomness and “luck” associated with their wins.

Additionally, the Islanders have been outshot in almost all games this season. Throughout the season thus far, there have been only six games in which the Islanders outshot their opponent and won. And there have only been seven games where the Islanders outshot their opponent and lost. So, at around the halfway mark of the Islanders’ season, the team has only outshot their opponent in 13 games. In most of the games the Islanders have played this season, they have been outshot.

In 32 games this season, the Islanders have been outshot by their opponent. In 20 of those 32 games, the Islanders were outshot and ultimately lost the game. Here, we see that when the Islanders are outshot, they end up losing almost 63% of the time. Overall, the Islanders have been outshot in nearly 68% of their games this season. When a team generates more shots on goal, they create more scoring opportunities and naturally have a higher percentage of winning the game. A team that cannot sustain pressure in the offensive zone has a lower probability of winning games in the NHL.

With approximately 35 games left in the regular season and a new bench boss in Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, the Islanders are desperately trying to establish a winning identity for the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the Islanders currently sit outside the last wild-card spot for the playoffs, the team is very much in the hunt.

It is somewhat likely that even if the Islanders do not address the issues plaguing the team, they could still sneak into the playoffs. This season, the Eastern Conference has displayed much more parity than normal. So, despite the Islanders’ struggles, the team still has an opportunity to make an enormous splash in the playoffs.

Now, with Roy taking over as the Islanders’ coach, the team’s playing philosophy seems to have shifted towards a much needed more aggressive approach. In most of the games the Islanders have played this season, they have been outshot.

In just two games under Roy, it has been quite noticeable that the Islanders are much more tenacious in their forecheck and pressure in the offensive zone. Although Roy lost his second game behind the bench with a 3-2 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights, there are positives to take away from the game.

First, the Islanders’ 3-2 loss against the Golden Knights was the second game this season where they put 40 shots on goal. Next, it was the second game this season where the Islanders outshot their opponent by at least 15. And, lastly, it was the only game this season in which the Islanders outshot their opponent during all three periods. Roy cannot change the Islanders overnight, but at least the team is finally moving in the right direction. Only time will tell if the Islanders can right the ship heading into the postseason.

Featured Image courtesy of Dennis Schneidler / USA Today

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.