trim_14028474-D033-4FF6-B654-3A09671C9AFC The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] have allowed 38 third-period goals this season, the most in the NHL. Although it would still be an issue if the Islanders were winning those games, their inability to keep the puck out of their own net in the final 20 has led to some disastrous losses. Albeit fresh off a no-goals-against third period in their latest game, a 3-0 shutout victory against the Buffalo Sabres, I dove into the numbers a bit further. While I didn't look at every game or every third-period goal given up, I did look at all the games in which the Islanders blew a third-period lead to see if there was a common theme. The Islanders have allowed 15 third-period goals in the nine games (2-3-4) where they've blown a third-period lead. To preface these statistics, keep in mind that the top-end players are playing more, which means they are more than likely to be on the ice for a goal against at a higher rate. Let's start with the forwards: *Give one to Kyle MacLean (2nd New Jersey Devils game) Kyle Palmieri, who leads the list, has logged the third-most minutes amongst the forward group this season at 468:34. Three of the seven goals he's been on the ice for have come while he's been on the penalty kill. Brock Nelson, who has been on the ice for the second-most minutes this season, 475:22, has been on the ice for one power-play goal against. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMDExNTkyOTI4NjM0NDE1/usatsi_24866183.jpg] The most surprising number here might be Simon Holmstrom, a third-liner turned first-liner, given the injuries. He is a major part of the penalty kill, playing 33:21 of his 415:08 minutes while shorthanded. But it speaks volumes that he has not been on the ice for a power-play goal against a third-period goal in which the Islanders blew a lead. Cizikas has played 328:39 minutes, the fourth-fewest among team starters, and has been on the ice for five, as he's struggled. To be fair, two of the five were on the penalty kill, but that doesn't mean he was effective in those situations. Now, let's move on to the defense: Let's get right to the elephant in the room. Yes, Dobson has struggled mightily, especially in the "clutch" moments this season. He's also played the most minutes out of any of the blueliners, logging 610:04 minutes. The next closest is Ryan Pulock, who has skated in over 40 minutes less (570:23). We saw head coach Patrick Roy take Dobson out of the rotation on Saturday night, with No. 8 not hitting the ice for the final 6:41 minutes. More on that in the story below: Rookie Isaiah George got off to a fiery start but has gone through growing pains, even alongside Pulock. You will notice that one name is not on this list: Dennis Cholowski. Although he's been on the ice for third-period goals, he hasn't scored one goal that has tied the game or given the opponent a lead in the third period. That has a lot to do with Roy not playing him in critical moments. Grant Hutton has been on the ice for only one of those goals, and we saw that Roy had more trust in him than Dobson on Satuday night, with Hutton finishing the game. Another standout here is Alexander Romanov. Yes, he's missed two of the nine games in which the Islanders blew third-period leads, but for a player who plays in crunch time, only being on the ice for three of these goals is a positive. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwOTYyMTQxNDgwNDk0OTI5/usatsi_24809366.jpg] The numbers do back up the eye test, but it's important to note that, collectively, forwards and defensemen have to do a better job making the big plays in the big moments, whether it's a block, a clear, or a goal, to add to a lead and secure a win. Before we put a bow on this, we need to discuss the goaltending. Ilya Sorokin has started four of these games, with Varlamov starting five. While I could not find their GAA and SV% in third periods, I did find their stats for when the Islanders have had a lead: Varlamov: 5.70 GAA, .795 SV% (18 GA on 88 shots) Sorokin: 2.66 GAA, .920 SV% (12 GA on 150 shots) So, that's a deep dive into the Islanders' third-period woes.
