Islanders Fall 3-1 to Sabres Donning a 2-1-1 record to start the 2023-24 season, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-buffalo-sabres-arizona-coyotes-newe-jersey-devils] have some work to do if they are going to be a more consistent team. Here's three standouts from the first four games, starting with Brock Nelson. NELSON SHOT REMAINS STELLAR Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNTEyNTA5MzIzMDkzNjI1/usatsi_21651533.jpg] The Islanders have relied heavily on Brock Nelson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/brock-nelson-new-york-islanders-stan-fischler-stefen-rosner]'s production the last two seasons, as the now 32-year-old has scored 73 goals in the previous two seasons. Nelson got support in the second half of 2022-23 when Kyle Palmieri returned from injury, and Pierre Engvall came aboard via trade. That threesome carried the Islanders into the playoffs and gave them a chance in their first-round series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. That line has had no issues after a few months off, and Nelson has been the catalyst with three goals and an assist. On opening night, Nelson lit the lamp early for New York, adding an assist at the end of the period in what became a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. His goal was a goal-scorer's goal as from the slot, as he picked glove side on the young Devon Levi before earning an assist from the low slot before the end of the first period. Nelson's two-goal performance came this past Friday against the New Jersey Devils, a 5-4 overtime loss. His first of two was similar to his opening night tally, scoring from the slot over the left pad of Devils' netminder Akira Schmid. In the second frame, all alone in goal, Nelson beat Schmid five-hole. Although Nelson should not be the lone lamp-lighter this season, the Islanders expect him to be a focal point of the offense. He's been on the ice for four of the Islanders' nine goals thus far, leading the team with a 1.2 Expected Goals For, and is tied with Bo Horvat for second on the team with 11 shots during five-on-five play (NaturalStatrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=std&rate=n&team=NYI&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL]) AHO EMERGENCE YET AGAIN Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjk3MTQ2NzQ1OTIzMjE1/usatsi_21651531.jpg] Arguably, the Islanders' second-best defenseman this past postseason, Sebastian Aho [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/sebastian-aho-new-york-islanders-samuel-bolduc-scott-mayfield-lambert-analysis], continues to prove that he can be a starting defenseman in the NHL. The 27-year-old's most significant issue over the last handful of years has been finding consistency, but it seems the more he plays, the better he shows. Aho opened the season alongside Scott Mayfield, but an injury to No. 24 on opening night meant a new partner for Aho and a new side of the ice. Islanders head coach Lane Lambert entrusted the Swedish defenseman to play on his off-side alongside second-year NHLer Samuel Bolduc, and through three games, the duo has been solid. Despite playing the second-fewest minutes amongst the defense corps, Aho has been on the ice for 29 Islander shots, which is third most behind Noah Dobson and Adam Pelech, per NaturalStatrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=NYI&pos=D&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL]. He's been on the ice for just one goal against at five-on-five. Outside of bringing the speed element, Aho has shown well defensively. He's been able to keep the opposition to the outside and has been strong with his breakout passes. "He's a player that just works and battles," Lambert said after the 3-1 loss to the Sabres Saturday night. VARLAMOV VERY SHARP Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjk3MTY1MjY3OTY5ODEy/usatsi_21707089.jpg] Outside of a few preseason starts, Semyon Varlamov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-ilya-sorokin-semyon-varlamov-goaltending-tandems-2023-24] hadn't made an NHL start since March 30th. The Islanders were in a battle for their lives for a final wild-card spot, and Lambert went with Ilya Sorokin as much as he could to conclude the season. Varlamov, a pending unrestricted free agent come season's end, could have signed with a handful of teams this summer in a starting role. But, Varlamov made it clear that the island is where he wanted to be, putting actions to the words when he signed a four-year extension worth $11 million on July 1st to be a true backup. After watching the first three games of the season, Varlamov got the start against the Sabres on Saturday. Albeit not a win, a 3-1 loss, Varlamov was brilliant, stopping 40 of 43 that came his way, including 12 of 13 high-danger shots at five-on-five, per NaturalStatrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20232024&game=20067https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-ilya-sorokin-semyon-varlamov-goaltending-tandems-2023-24]. CLUTTERBUCK CRUISING Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjk3MTkxMDM3NzczNTg4/usatsi_21693241.jpg] Entering the final season of a two-year extension, Cal Clutterbuck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/cal-clutterbuck-new-york-islanders-stan-fischler-dynasty-teams]'s health has become a storyline. The 35-year-old has dealt with a multitude of injuries over the last few seasons, limiting him to just 108 of the club's 164. Could he hold up in 2023-24, was the question. While just four games in, Clutterbuck has looked exceptional. He's been hard on loose pucks, bringing that physicality with 10 hits and a few blocks, and seems to be making the right plays at the right time. That's not to say the Islanders' identity line has been on fire, but the issues stemming from that line haven't come from No. 15's stick. Because of his strong play, Lambert gave him a few shifts alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee on Saturday night. Although some of that was circumstantial, with penalty killers getting rest per Lambert, Clutterbuck is just being Clutterbuck. "He's just played hard. That's what he does," Lambert said.
