Despite falling 5-4 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche to kick off 2024, the New York Islanders continued to collect points, as their offense continued to be a weapon.
Despite falling 5-4 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche to kick off 2024, the New York Islanders continued to collect points, as their offense continued to be a weapon.
Despite falling 5-4 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche to kick off 2024, the New York Islanders did what they've done the entire season: Collect points.
The Islanders did have a 3-1 lead in the second period and a 4-3 lead heading into the third, as their blowing-lead issues haven't vanished after playing better with the lead as of late.
But it's been their offensive output that's allowed them to match the best offensive machines the NHL has to offer, helping to keep them in a playoff spot and fight for a top spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Since Lane Lambert took over behind the bench to start the 2022-23 season. there's been a mentality shift in the mindset of the players and the coaching staff.
In Lambert's first year behind the bench, in what was a roller coaster of a season, the Islanders averaged 2.95 goals per game, seeing that number reach 3.22 from October of 2022 until the end of December.
Due to injuries and, ultimately a lack of offense in an underwhelming January, the Islanders had to revert to Barry Trotz-style hockey to claw their way into the playoffs.
Given the abundance of offensive talent brought in by general manager Lou Lamoriello over the last year, with names like Bo Horvat, who unlocked Mathew Barzal, and Pierre Engvall, who has been the final piece to Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, the Islanders offense is a catalyst and a life savior, especially with how much the defense has struggled this season.
In the second-year under Lambert, the Islanders offense sits 18th best, scoring 3.05 goals per game. Since Dec. 1, the Islanders have scored the eighth-most goals in the NHL, with 53.
According to MoneyPuck.com, the Islanders threesome of Lee, Horvat, and Barzal have been on the ice for 20 goals, which is tied for third in the NHL. The line of Nelson, flanked by Engvall and Palmieri, has been on the ice for 19, which ranks fourth.
Having a true top six for the first time since the dynasty years has unleashed the Islanders' offense.
It's something that Trotz never had when he was behind the Islanders bench (2018-2021).
The Islanders earned points under Trotz by scoring 2.75 goals per game and then parking the bus to hold on, allowing 2.56 over those four years.
Things are different now.
The Islanders have played 37 games this season and have scored more than three goals in 26 of them, scoring four or more in nine of them and five goals or more in five games, with one seven-goal explosion.
Their record when scoring four or more goals this season is 9-2-4, with a point percentage of 73.33.
They've put up four or more goals twice against the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, and Carolina Hurricanes, the second-best, seventh-best, and ninth-best offenses, respectively.
They scored four or more against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the sixth-best offense.
While blowing leads have been a major issue this season, the fact that they've had the offense to garner two-goal leads 29 times in 37 games tells you that the offense has been effective.
It's been the defensive mistakes that have burned the Islanders so often, as they've allowed the next goal 21 times after getting out to a two-goal lead, per Islanders statistician Eric Hornick.
Defensive hockey is no longer the Islanders' bread and butter, and if they can clean up their defensive act just a bit, this offense has the ability to win them and steal their games, which, at the very least, will allow them to continue to collect points at a consistent rate over the remaining 45 games and book their ticket to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.