The New York Islanders showed off their tweaked system, but they need to find a balance to continue their offensive production.
A week ago, the New York Islanders tweaked their defensive zone structure.
To help counteract the consistent defensive zone miscues, a defenseman was to be stationed in the slot — and stay there — while the other defenseman and a forward battled in the corner.
If the play came around the other side of the net, the defenseman positioned in the slot, along with the then weak-side forward, would attach the puck while the other defenseman and forward would take their place.
In theory, this would limit opponent high-danger chances, as the forwards would be helping out more in their own zone to keep shots to the outside.
The following day after implementing the tweak, the Islanders got steamrolled by the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 and failed to follow their plan.
Two days later, in their 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, we still didn't see the tweaks come to the forefront.
Then, on Saturday against the Nashville Predators, the tweaks appeared, as the Islanders allowed practically nothing throughout two and a half periods.
The defense was guarding the slot, and the forwards were backchecking more than we had seen this entire year.
It was as if Barry Trotz had come down from Nashville's general manager suite and onto the Islanders' bench.
That's how good the defensive structure was.
Even in the waning seconds of the third, when Islanders forward Matt Martin turned the puck over, leading to the Predators' go-ahead goal with 7.9 seconds to play, the structure was still sound.
Yes, it was a disaster full loss, but structurally, it was their best showing of the season.
As we came to see under Trotz, this lockdown defensive style stifles offensive chances, and we did see that on Saturday.
Outside of a few grade-A looks — Kyle Palmieri missing the net on a 2-on-1 and Mathew Barzal doing the same point-blank, there were very few chances off the rush.
A large part of that was because the forwards were incredibly deep in their own zone, which meant fewer forwards were readily available for rush chances.
Trotz's teams were notorious for winning games because of their defense and because they found ways to score at a high rate on their limited chances.
Since Lambert became the head coach, given the increase in offensive talent, relying on defense to win wasn't necessary, so we saw a shift.
However, the increase and offense have led to a defensive letdown over the last two seasons, with this year by far being much worse.
The Islanders found a way to put a weak January behind them and find a system balance, reverting to more of a Trotz style, allowing 2.53 goals per game over the final 30 games of the season.
That regained defensive structure allowed the offense to find their legs again, scoring 3.13 goals per game.
The Islanders need to get back to finding a balance because limiting chances is phenomenal, especially with what Ilya Sorokin had to endure this season.
But stifling offense, for a team whose offense has carried them this season, likely won't lead to collecting points consistently, which is a need as everyone seems to keep winning in the Metropolitan Division.