ELMONT, NY -- Goals were hard to come by for the New York Islanders before losing Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.
Before his departure, the Islanders averaged 2.72 goals per game, which ranked 27th in the NHL.
So, it's not a shock that the Islanders offense has been essentially non-existent since, averaging 1.75, the third-lowest in the league.
In the four games without Nelson, the last three being losing results, the Islanders have scored a combined seven goals with just one goal in each of the last three games, being outscored 10-3.
It’s not like Nelson was the only goal scorer on this team, but without Nelson and Mathew Barzal, it’s not fair to think that Jean-Gabriel Pageau would bring Nelson’s offense despite playing in his spot in the lineup.
Chance creation isn't what's missing. It's Nelson's finishing.
The Islanders have had chances to score more than a goal in these last three games.
They had 25 shots on Friday in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers, 34 (and two disallowed goals) on Tuesday in their 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings and 32 shots in their 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
Without Nelson, this is really where the Islanders needed to see their league-worst power play rise to the occasion.
However, the Islanders power play is 0-for-14 over the last three games.
"We had so many opportunities," Islanders forward Bo Horvat said following the loss to Edmonton. "We had a lot. We had a couple semi-breakaways, a couple of nice moves around tight in front of the net. Fasching had a nice opportunity.
"We just have to cash in on those and find ways to bury those. We've obviously had trouble putting the puck in the net the last three games, and we have to find a way."
Their playoff hope depends on it.
The Islanders woke up on Saturday morning four points back of the second wild-card Columbus Blue Jackets.
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