Barry trotz

New York Islanders: How to Fix the Power Play

by
New York Islanders, Devon Toews

The New York Islanders are currently 5/30 on the power play during the playoffs. This makes them 7th in power-play playoff rankings. Now, this isn’t a terrible ranking, but only converting on 16.7% of your 5v4 opportunities is not going to win you a cup. The Islanders have to clean up three problems to fix their power play for the playoffs, and hopefully for many years to come.

Zone Entries

The way the Islanders enter the zone on power plays is flat out annoying. It always starts with a drop pass from Devon Toews to Mat Barzal; Barzal then makes two moves and loses possession. The Islanders need to cut out the drop pass first of all. The number of times the penalty killers have intercepted the drop pass is countless. Also, why wouldn’t the Isles just chip and chase? It’s a 5v4, and you have the fastest player in the league. Also, you have Anders Lee, who is a huge body. There’s no reason to not chip and chase. If anything, it’ll lead to more offensive zone time and more penalty killers out of position.

Faceoffs

If you win the faceoff that’s in the offensive zone when you’re up a man, chances are you’ll have a good opportunity to score. The Islanders almost never win the offensive zone faceoff. How are you going to lose a faceoff to Lars Eller? I don’t know why Trotz won’t let JG Pageau take the faceoff; it makes no sense, he’s the best faceoff guy on the team. Also, why is Anders Lee taking faceoffs? I understand you don’t want Barzal to take faceoffs from his non-dominant side, but you have more than one center on the ice during the PP.

Personnel

Here is something I’ve never understood, why does the first PP line have five left-handed players? That means everyone is catching passes on their backhand and not facing towards the net. In what world does having five left-handed players on the ice benefit this team? Trotz needs to put someone like Eberle and Pulock on the first line PP so that shots will actually go on the net. The first line PP doesn’t even get one-timers, they have to switch back to forehand before they even shoot. Something needs to change in the personnel department.

Conclusion

The Islanders could be one of the most dangerous teams in the league if they fixed their power play problems. Can’t make a deep run if you can’t take advantage of mistakes.

New York Islanders: Analysis of the Game 1 Win vs the Capitals

by
New York Islanders, Islanders

Game 1 to the Island, as the immortal Brennan Burke call goes. The New York Islanders defeat the Washington Capitals with a score of 4-2 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Capitals played a solid 40 minutes of Hockey, but the Islanders played an excellent final 20 minutes to take the game. The Islanders looked sloppy most of the night. There were a bunch of bad penalties, mishandled passes, bad breakout attempts, and more. Despite this, it all came down to who wanted the win more. This is how the Islanders won.

More Shots

The Islanders are notorious for taking minimal shots on goal during games. This seemed to be the case during today’s game, as they only had two shots in the first period. The Islanders started to pick up the pace after TJ Oshie’s second powerplay goal. This would ultimately lead to a Jordan Eberle wrister that would somehow sneak in over Braden Holtby’s left shoulder. As the 3rd period started, Islanders fans saw a spark in their team’s play. The Islanders began to dictate the pace of the game, and make it an all Islanders period. The Islanders would end up scoring three more goals during the 3rd period and seal the win. You can’t score without shooting.

A Quicker Pace

The Islanders have some of the fastest players in the league, like Mat Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. If a game breaks down into a fastbreak opportunity galore, the Islanders will win that game. The Capitals are a good team, but they’re not fast enough to keep up with the Islanders’ young guns. The Islanders kept the pressure on in the 3rd period, and it led them to many great high percentage scoring chances. The Islanders would make the best of those chances and score three goals, as previously stated.

5v5 Play

I don’t know what it is about Barry Trotz’s system, but it is insanely hard to outplay the Islanders when they’re at full strength. Especially recently, the New York Islanders haven’t been outplayed 5v5. If the Capitals weren’t gifted seven powerplays, there could’ve been a shutout in the works. The Islanders look very strong in all facets of the game and didn’t let up any easy chances.

Conclusion

Winning game 1 of any series is a huge victory. It takes the pressure of off game 2, and it allows you to be more aggressive in your approach. Islanders fans certainly feel relief with a 1-0 series lead.

New York Islanders: Mat Barzal needs to Wake Up

by
Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders

New York Islanders‘ center, Mat Barzal has been playing terrible hockey against the Florida Panthers. It seems like every time Barzal gets the puck, he either turns it over or takes eight laps around the offensive zone and turns it over. A hockey team’s first line cannot be the worst line, especially a playoff hockey team. Mat Barzal needs to wake up right now, or the Islanders will not make a deep run for the cup.

What Barzal needs to Improve on

Mat Barzal leads the NHL in giveaways, and that is never a good thing. Barzal also never shoots the puck, can’t score if you don’t shoot. Barzal must learn from fellow youngster Anthony Beauvillier about shooting more often. Beauvillier has looked unstoppable during the playoffs, and he creates a bunch of chances for himself and others. Barzal must learn that if you get the puck on the net, a teammate will get a rebound and score. Anders Lee is paid $7 million dollars for tap ins, and Barzal never even sets him up for one. Barzal must also stop blindly passing behind himself. He always does that, and it leads to 3v2 opportunities.

How to Wake Him Up

Head Coach Barry Trotz needs to take Barzal off the first line for the next couple of games. Barzal needs to earn his ice time back, he cannot just be gifted with it. Jean-Gabriel Pageau should take over as the first-line center. Barzal should either man the second line or the third line. The same thing goes for captain Anders Lee, but that’s a different story. Trotz wants his best players to get the most time, not the players with the biggest name.

Conclusion

Mat Barzal must wake up right now if the Islanders want to make a deep run. Trotz knows what he has to do, and he will do as such. Hopefully, Barzal turns it around.