Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders After losing the face-off battle in their first game of the regular season, the New York Islanders went on to win the face-off numbers in 14 straight games to set a new franchise record. But that streak came to a close on Tuesday night in Edmonton, as they only won 46.7% of thier draws. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNjY5Nzc3OTU2MzgyNjk3/usatsi_24749340-1.jpg] Winning face-offs is critical to winning hockey games, as it helps teams establish possession. The Islanders have been good at this throughout the early goings of the season, winning the possession game despite the result. But against a team like the Oilers, with the likes of Connor McDavid, winning face-offs means less time for him, Leon Draistail, and Co. to have the pucks on their stick and make plays. Unfortunately for the Islanders, they didn't just lose the face-off game but lost them when they really counted. At even-strength, the Islanders won 47% of their draws, going 1-for-4 in the dot on their two power plays and 3-for-5 while shorthanded. Bo Horvat (3-for-6) and Brock Nelson (12-for-24) won 50% of their draws, with team leader Jean-Gabriel Pageau struggling, only winning 36% of his draws (5-for-14). Casey Cizikas only won 28% (2-for-7). Kyle MacLean was the team leader on the night, who led the NHL in FO% earlier this season. He won 80% of his draws, which were limited (4-for-5). Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNjY5NzkyNDUxODk3MTY5/usatsi_24748837.jpg] The Islanders only won 35% of thier offensive-zone face-offs (7-for-20), winning 50% in the defensive zone (12-for-24), and even won 56% in the neutral zone (9-for-16). McDavid won 54% of his draws (7-of-13), with Draisaitl winning 56% (10-for-18). Early in the third period, McDavid won an offensive zone draw, which led to Evan Bouchard's 2-1 tally. Later in the third, Draisaitl won a defensive zone draw, which eventually led to McDavid's backhand tally, giving the Oilers a 3-1 lead. And then, where a face-off win can be do or die, Nelson lost the overtime starter to Draisatil. Ryan Pulock eventually ended up icing the puck, and while Horvat won the defensive-zone draw, the Oilers garnered possession before pinning New York, with Draistail scoring the game-winner: Pulock was on the ice for 1:52, which led to him being out of gas. Simon Holmstrom (1:17) and Bo Horvat (1:14) were also stuck out there for an elongated shift. They got stuck because of their inability to possess the puck after a face-off win. Against Edmonton, the Islanders didn't have possession, in large part due to not winning draws, but even when they did, they struggled to break out of the defensive zone or cycle in the offensive zone. Especially on the road, winning face-offs is a way to counteract the inability to play the matchup game, with the home team having second change. Through 16 games, the Islanders sit third in the NHL with a team FO% of 54.8, just 0.1 shy of the league-leading Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Hockey Club (54.9%). The Islanders' next opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, is seventh in the NHL, winning 52.3% of their draws.
