Though the point streak has come to an end, the New York Islanders have played well out west. Earning three of six possible points this past week, the Islanders move on to Calgary to continue their trip. Behind the success of captain Anders Lee, the Islanders will look to continue gaining points before heading back home.

Anders Lee began his career with the Islanders on April 2, 2013, when he scored his first career goal on his first career shot against the Winnipeg Jets. He would only play one other game in the 2012-13 season, adding an assist to end his first professional season.

Officially, Lee’s rookie year in 2013-14 was a huge success. Though he only played 22 games, the 2009 sixth-round pick tallied nine goals, five assists and 14 points. The promise of a breakout year was evident.

It started in his next couple of years, when Lee consistently began to produce over full seasons. He also started to show his special teams potential, racking up 33 power play points over the next two seasons. Finally, in 2016-17, Lee broke through with 34 goals and 18 assists. Almost half of his 52 points were on the power play and Lee scored six goals that were game-winning.

In 2017-18, Lee had the best season of his career. He scored a career-best 40 goals on his way to 62 points, helping the Islanders to a near .500 season as the team itself was on the cusp of making the playoffs.

A year later, Lee and the Islanders made the playoffs, falling in the second round to the Carolina Hurricanes in a four-game sweep. Lee earned 51 points that season and it began a string of successful seasons for the Islanders.

Prior to 2018-19 and the run into the playoffs for the Islanders, Lee was named the captain after John Tavares left for Toronto. After playing in the organization for five full seasons, Lee was very well deserving of the role, not only because he was a solid forward, but also because he had the leadership skills that the New York Islanders wanted.

Lee also was one of the most charitable players in the NHL, which helped the Islanders image as an organization.

In 2020-21, the New York Islanders came one game away from having a Stanley Cup appearance, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. Lee played in only 27 games during the shortened regular season of 56 games, where he tore his ACL on March 12 in a game against the New Jersey Devils.

Missing Lee in the series against the Lightning hurt the Islanders and he was able to have a good comeback season the following year.

This all leads into 2024-25, where Lee is still the captain for the Islanders, and though the numbers haven’t been the same as his prime, Lee is a threat, especially when top-line forwards such as Mathew Barzal get injured.

He came into the five-game road trip that the Islanders are currently on with nine points in 15 games, but found the back of the net twice in Edmonton on Tuesday. Lee followed that performance up with a goal and an assist in Vancouver on Thursday before being held quiet in Seattle last night.

Lee scored two of the three New York goals that were scored in Edmonton, while Connor McDavid earned four points in the 4-3 overtime victory for the Oilers. He was a massive help in the 5-2 victory over the Canucks on Thursday. A tough loss to the Kraken Saturday will be a learning lesson for the Islanders as they move on to Calgary on Tuesday and then Detroit to finish up the road trip on Thursday.

This explosion of offense from Lee this past week shows that the captain knows how to lead when he is the one that everyone is looking toward to right the ship. As the season gets deeper into November, the Islanders will look to finish the road trip strong and return home with four points in their pockets.

Featured image courtesy of Bob Frid/Imagn Images

Andrew Nowel

Andrew Nowel is a hockey nerd and has been following the game for many years. He grew up a Devils fan because of his Dad and also roots for the Penguins and has been rooting for them since he was in 4th grade. Andrew is currently in college studying Journalism and Business with a concentration in Sports Production and Broadcasting at Canisius University in Buffalo, New York.