Islanders Puck Talk – Weekly Review

This week in Islanders hockey essentially sums up the entire season.  Within this week there’s been a drubbing against them, a blowout in their favor, and an extremely disappointing performance.  Fortunately, many of the teams in the Metro have fallen back a little bit, so a five to six game win streak will get the Islanders back on track to the playoffs.  They are currently only two points out of the playoffs, three points out of second place in the Metro.

Thursday, January 18, 2018 – vs Boston Bruins

The Islanders ran into the hottest team in the universe on Thursday as the Bruins came to Brooklyn.  Regardless of how hot the Bruins were, the Islanders have always struggled against Boston.  Jordan Eberle started the scoring midway through the first off a nice pass from Mat Barzal.  Where have we heard that before?  Unfortunately as is the case this season, the Islanders could not hold onto a lead and Patrice Bergeron scored his first of three.

The second period was hard-hitting, with lots of short shifts and tight checking, but Ryan Spooner scored to break the 1-1 tie, and Patrice Bergeron potted his second on the PP to give Boston the lead.  The second period always seems to be where the Islanders lose their focus and give up a few soft goals.

Patrice Bergeron scored a hat trick early in the period and that was all she wrote for the game.  John Tavares added a late tally to make it 4-2 but the Bruins are one of the hardest teams to come back on.  Brad Marchand added an empty netter and the Islanders gave up five goals once again.

Bruins 5, Islanders 2

Saturday, January 20, 2018 – @ Chicago Blackhawks

Another team that the Islanders have always had trouble with is the Chicago Blackhawks.  This was not the case on Saturday, as the Islanders won in a romp.  It didn’t look great as Patty Kane scored within the first minute of the game, but the Islanders regrouped and finished with three in the first.  Anthony Beauviller stuffed home a rebound on the PP, Jordan Eberle stuck one home past Anton Forsberg, and Ryan Pulock made one of his fancy moves into the slot to make it 3-1.

Anthony Beauvillier continued his hot streak with another PPG to start off the second.  Erik Gustafsson made it 4-2 but even though it was only a two goal game the Islanders looked incredibly poised and looked like a team that wouldn’t give up the lead.

Casper the Ghost himself Brock Nelson appeared with a clutch goal in the third period to give the Islanders a three goal lead.  Patrick Kane scored his second of the game to make it a two goal game again, but Anders Lee and John Tavares shut the door on a Blackhawks comeback with two goals later in the third.  It was a great game for the Islanders, who got a much needed win in Chicago.

Islanders 7, Blackhawks 3

Monday, January 22, 2018 – @ Arizona Coyotes

The Islanders visited the desert for a battle with the lowly Arizona Coyotes, and while the Yotes haven’t been relevant for a few years they always give the Islanders trouble.  Nick Cousins scored the only goal in the first period with a trickler that somehow got past Jaroslav Halak.  This was most definitely a goal I consider soft.

Anthony Beauvillier scored AGAIN to tie the game up at two.  It’s unbelievable how good this second line is, somehow even better than when Andrew Ladd was on it.  Unfortunately, a bad clear led to a Brandon Perlini goal for the Yotes to make it a 2-1 game.  To be completely honest, I haven’t heard of more than half of these players on the Coyotes.

Anthony Beauvillier was up to his old tricks again in the third period with an early goal to tie things up once again at two.  The Islanders had plenty of opportunities to win this in regulation, but Antii Raanta was incredibly clutch, making saves all over the ice and in awkward positions.

The game made it to overtime and after a beautiful blown opportunity by the Islanders in the Yotes end, Nick Cousins outskated a tired Nick Leddy to put home the overtime goal.  John Tavares got caught in the offensive end and was unable to get back, leading to a 3-on-2.  This was a tough pill to swallow because the Coyotes are by far the worst team in the NHL.  At least they got a point.

Coyotes 3, Islanders 2 (OT)

High Tide

I can’t tell you how impressed I am with Anthony Beauvillier.  Since the winter break Beauvillier has racked up eight goals and nine points, all of these points with Mat Barzal on the ice, whether it be on the second line or on the power play.  These two have been friends for a very long time, and to see the chemistry they have on the ice is magical.  Beau has a renewed confidence after coming back up from Bridgeport, and he is definitely not going back down for the foreseeable future.

Low Tide

As stated bluntly by Brian Compton of NHL.com, Jason Chimera has two points since December 11th.  Chimera does a lot of little things like kill penalties, forecheck, and play a gritty style, but he is just not producing at all and should really be shown a seat.  There seems to be only accountability with the young kids and not veterans like Brock Nelson and Jason Chimera.  If Doug Weight really wants to be true to his word, he would sit both Nelson and Chimera for at least a game because they’ve gotten essentially nothing done.

The Islanders play one more game in Vegas before the All-Star break.  If they get even a point the road trip will be a success.  Make sure to follow me on Twitter @SupRos22 and @DoubleGSports for all sports coverage.