The New York Islanders second line has seen a drop in production as of late. Here's why Lane Lambert isn't concerned.
The New York Islanders second line has seen a drop in production as of late. Here's why Lane Lambert isn't concerned.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders second line was one of the best lines in the NHL last season once Islanders head coach Lane Lambert slotted Pierre Engvall alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri last March.
The Islanders gave Engvall a seven-year extension in the summer at $3 million annually, as that line remained the same when the 2023-24 season began.
Despite a few months off, that line went to work. Through Dec. 13, that line was on the ice for 15 goals, the fifth-best production in the NHL.
They were only on the ice for seven goals against.
But as of late, the line's production has dipped.
Since Dec. 15 (11 games), the Islanders' second line has only been on the ice for four goals and has allowed seven.
When The Hockey News asked Lambert what he'd seen from the second line following Monday's practice, he thinks the chances have been there.
"I think a little bit of the pucks not going in," Lambert said. "If you think about that Vegas game, we had some great chances. Engvall had a couple of really good, probably three or four, good opportunities. Brock had a couple of opportunities at the net front.
"I guess when that happens, don't over-analyze, don't overthink, but certainly, we'll look forward to them getting back on the right track."
In the Vegas game, Nelson's line out-chanced 12-5 but, as Lambert said, couldn't get the puck to go in. Outside of Engvall having countless chances, Palmieri was stoned by the blocker of Golden Knight's netminder Logan Thompson on a breakaway in the first period.
A goal there would have given the Islanders a 2-1 lead, and who knows, given the way Thompson has fallen apart at times this season, that could have been a game-changer.
"I think there's gonna be ebbs and flows to a year," Palmieri told The Hockey News. "I thought the other night in Vegas, we had four or five grade-A opportunities, and if one or two of those find the back of the net, the balls rolling in a different direction.
"I think we just stick with that. And I thought we did a good job of using our speed and just attacking the net. That's one of the things that makes us successful as a line. We just got to continue to do that, and the pucks will start bouncing in."
While Nelson has shown ability to carry the Islanders' offense, Palmieri and Engvall were two players that should be helping him out more than they have as of late.
Engvall is the transitioner, so when his game is off, it impacts the entire line's ability to be effective. And when Palmieri isn't driving to the net or winning inside position in front of goal, that affects production.
These upcoming stats are all based on 5-on-5 play:
Nelson has five goals and five assists over his last 13 games.
Palmieri has two goals and one assist over his previous 13 games, with no goals in his last 11 games.
Although Engvall's game isn't based on points, he does have just one goal in his last 13 games, with no assists, and was a healthy scratch on New Year's Eve (scratched vs. Boston Bruins earlier in the season).
"You want to score and put up some points," Engvall told THN. "So, to be honest, it doesn't feel great when you're not scoring, but if you work hard and do the right things, that will come.
"We got to work hard for it. I think I can work a little bit harder in those dirty areas to make sure that those pucks aren't going in."
Against the Vancouver Canucks high-octane offense on Tuesday night, the Islanders will need their top-six clicking if the game becomes a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.
You can watch Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert live Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season at twitch.tv/hockeynightny.