The New York Islanders Have Found Their Swagger
There is a famous quote by mixed martial artist Connor McGregor.
During a press conference before a fight, McGregor said that his opponent “should have killed me when he had the chance. Because now, I’m back and I am going to kill you.” While the New York Islanders do not play in an Octagon, the teams in the NHL failed to kill the Islanders’ playoff hopes when the team was struggling. Even during the Islanders’ most brutal stretches this season, the team still managed to pick up points in overtime and shootout losses.
Blown leads have served as the Islanders‘ Achilles’ heel this season. Consequently, the Islanders have an absurd number of overtime and shootout losses—14 losses. 41% of the Islanders’ losses this season have come after regulation. However, the Islanders do not have many regulation losses. Surprisingly, the Islanders only have three more regulation losses than the Florida Panthers, who are currently in first place in the NHL.
With a current five-game winning streak, the Islanders have propelled themselves back into the playoff race. The Islanders are the first team outside the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference, with games in hand on both wild-card teams. The Islanders control their own destiny. At long last, the team has found their swagger and the Islanders are finally a force to be reckoned with. The rest of the NHL is now meeting a fully rejuvenated and reenergized Islanders team.
Call it a resurrection, a revival, or whatever you like, but the New York Islanders have crawled back from a team stuck in limbo. At long last, everything is clicking for the team. While it is not the first time this season that the Islanders have put together strings of wins, there is a key difference between those wins earlier in the season and the Islanders’ current five-game win streak.
At the end of November and into the month of December, the Islanders were winning games. In the span of 12 games, the Islanders went 9-1-2. They even won four games in a row during this 12-game span. However, one-third of those Islanders’ wins were after regulation, indicating an element of luck and randomness. Furthermore, seven of the Islanders’ nine wins were decided by only one goal. Although, in this 12-game stretch, the Islanders were able to secure 20 crucial points, the stretch did little to boost the Islanders’ overall confidence or momentum. The Islanders were getting outshot and out pressured by most teams. The Islanders’ opponents erased deficits with ease. Most of the Islanders’ wins felt like they outlasted their opponent instead of the team out playing their opponent.
Although the Islanders still have much work before them with 20 games remaining, they seem to have turned the corner. In the Islanders’ current five-game win streak, they have outshot their opponent in four of the five wins. They have also outscored their opponents 24 to 10 in this five-game stretch. Ironically, what has been most impressive is the Islanders’ third period. The third period has not been kind to the Islanders all season. However, in this current five-game stretch, the Islanders have outscored their opponent six to two in the third period.
During his initial press conference with the New York Islanders, Patrick Roy mentioned that he was impressed with the depth of the team’s roster. Throughout the Islanders’ five-game win streak, the team has received production from many different players. Eight different Islanders recorded a point in the Islander’s 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars. When the Islanders faced off against the Detroit Red Wings, eight different players recorded a point in the Islanders’ 5-3 win. Nine different players put up points against the Boston Bruins. Ten different Islanders players recorded a point in the Islanders’ comeback win against the St. Louis Blues. Finally, against the San Jose Sharks, 13 players on the Islanders bench recorded a point. With such depth, the Islanders become a tough team to beat in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unlike many other teams in the NHL, the Islanders have the luxury of rolling all four lines, each contributing to the Islanders’ offensive production.
The Islanders are playing the best hockey they have all season. The Islanders are starting to mesh well with one another, and the team is playing as a cohesive group. If the Islanders can continue this level of play in their final stretch, the team might make the playoffs and leave their opponents wishing they had killed the Islanders when they had the chance.
Featured image courtesy of Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
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.
