It’s not over yet for the New York Islanders. Despite sitting 10 points in arrears of the final wildcard playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders have what it takes to make a second-half surge. But they’ll need another goalie first. Evgeni Nabakov re-strained a groin in the7-3 win over the visiting Dallas Stars and who knows how long the 38-year-old will be sidelined or hobbled. And I have no confidence in Kevin Poulin or Anders Nilsson to carry the load in Nabby’s absence.
The Islanders have been the great under-achievers
of the East all season. Goaltending has been the big issue. The
Islanders stand 29th in the league in goals-against average, yet are
a mediocre 20th in shots allowed. That suggests if the team were to
receive just average goaltending, they’d be a lot higher in the
standings. Maybe not in a playoff spot, but certainly within a point
or two. And if the Islanders received better than average
goaltending? They’d easily be within the top three in the
Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders have some other issues like a lot of
bubble teams. Their penalty killing is worst in the league and their
victory tonight was just their seventh on home ice this season,
second worst in the league ahead of just Detroit. But New York does
have a lot of positive attributes as well. It all starts with John
Tavares. He hit the 20-goal mark with a hat trick tonight and is
third in league scoring. Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen are having
nice offensive seasons and young high draft picks such as Ryan Strome
and Brock Nelson, each scoring impressive goals on Kari Lehtonen of
the Stars, are starting to play bigger roles. Thomas Vanek is working
well with Tavares and is nearing a point-per-game average. If Josh
Bailey and Michael Grabner can start chipping in, the Islanders will
move up from their 17th spot rank in offense.
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