Islanders Are Running Out Of Time To Fix Power Play; The Simple Answer

The New York Islanders power play, now without Noah Dobson, needs to figure things out and fast.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders are running out of time to fix their ailing power play.

New York is 21st in the NHL at 19.4 percent, with just two power-play goals on 19 tries since Apr. 1.

Despite going 6-0-1 over that span, the Islanders' power play could have helped them extend their winning streak to seven games against the cross-town rival New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

But their man advantage went 0-for-5, allowing a shorthanded goal, with the Rangers eventually tying the game late before winning 3-2 in a shootout.

The Islanders’ two power-play units recorded just two total shots on their five chances.

"I didn't feel like we got really clean setups, and we got to filter more pucks to the net and generate more, just more shots, more chances, and something off of that to get something going," Brock Nelson said.

He agreed that it was the same issue he noticed against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, a game where New York went 0-for-4 with two shots in a 3-2 overtime win.

What Nelson said could be said after most nights where the power play failed.

The power play was even more affected on Thursday and Saturday, with Noah Dobson, the team’s top power-play quarterback, missing from the lineup. 

The 24-year-old suffered an upper-body injury early against Montreal, and there is no information on when he will be able to return.

In his absence, the Islanders’ power play is 0-for-9, with four total shots.

“On the power play, he is obviously one of the better guys in the league,” Nelson said. “So, if you don't have him – it's not a knock on the next guy – but you'd like to have him versus not, so without him, we still think that we're a group that we can go out there and generate momentum.”

To kick off the power play, Dobson usually dropped the puck to Barzal, who, with speed and shiftiness, entered the offensive zone and got set up in their formation. 

Or, Dobson would break into the zone himself.

After the Islanders went with Sebastian Aho in Dobson’s spot, Mike Reilly is who will play on the top power-play unit against the New Jersey Devils on Monday. 

While Dobson's loss is monumental, the power play wasn't clicking with him in the lineup. Now, they need to find a way to fix it without him for who knows how long. 

"Obviously, Dobson is smooth with it coming up the ice and has good reads," Barzal said. "I think a little bit right now, it's on me and Bo (Horvat) and the other guys to get us set up. We miss Dobber out there a little bit, but there's definitely an onus on me and Bo."

The Islanders last scored a power-play goal back on Apr. 4, with the "second unit" (Palmieri, Nelson moved to PP2 for that shift) coming through to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead early in a 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It was a simple play, as defenseman Ryan Pulock's shot deflected off Pierre Engvall in front:

The Islanders' top unit came through the game prior, with Bo Horvat tying the game on the power play in a 2-1 against the Chicago Blackhawks after Horvat buried a Barzal feed wide open from the slot:

Looks like the one Horvat got above don't happen often. 

"I think it's about being a little more calm, being a little more confident and see our options," Roy said on Sunday afternoon. "I had that conversation with Bo (Horvat) this morning. Sometimes, it's almost like we're trying to be too perfect. Looking at, let's say, the Rangers, for example. They throw pucks at the net, and they compete for those rebounds. Sometimes, it's playing simple, and then it will create something and generate. How many goals does Chris Kreider get from those tips? They're a very good example of a team that moves the puck well and looks for those looks.

"The quality of goaltenders in this league now makes you wonder if you can score those pretty goals. Sometimes, it's just finding ways to put pucks at the net and score on rebounds. And I'm sure if you and I watch all the goals that have been scored in the NHL, we'll probably be surprised to see how many are tips in front of the net or rebounds in front of the net, more than like Tic Tac Toe."

The Islanders know how important it is to get the power play going before the playoffs if they get in, which seems likely. 

Their failure on the power play last postseason was why they weren't able to get past the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1, outscoring Carolina 11-10 at 5-on-5. 

Finishing the 2022-23 regulation with the third-worst power play in the NHL at 15.8 percent, they went 1-for-18 (5.6%) in that first-round series. 

The one power-play goal came off an Aho wrist shot from the point, which Palmieri deflected home, so keeping it simple does work. 

It wouldn't have been the end of the world if the penalty kill performed better, which allowed the Hurricanes five goals on 25 tries (20%).

The Islanders penalty kill this season, which is the worst in the NHL at 71.8 percent, has made the lack of power-play success even more of a concern.

"The (power play) connection isn't there right now and we are still winning hockey games," Barzal said, an optimistic and logical response. "So we get the power play clicking, which we will...We got too much talent on this team to not have it work and be good.

"We're going to just talk and, every day, keep trying to get better."

The Islanders. who can clinch third place in the Metropolitan Division on Monday night, only have two games and a few practices to figure out a power-play plan before the playoffs begin.