I’m sure the braintrust will figure things out.
In the Year of Our Bossy 2025, the New York Islanders have officially had 33 power play opportunities which have produced four power play goals. And that’s an improvement.
Recently, with Mat Barzal and Noah Dobson injured, the Isles have had to put together a makeshift unit that has not improved results. But it has arguably improved the threat. Adam Boqvist in particular has added a new dimension, making assertive passes through the interior that the legacy unit has consistently shied away from. They didn’t convert, but they looked better.
It reminds me of something Justin Bourne wrote recently about separating Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, to keep the team from predictably forcing it to its go-to guys.
Watching Toronto’s power play without Marner against Calgary on Tuesday night, it was borderline strange watching the Leafs snap it around so well in his absence.
Much like the Leafs’ power play without Matthews, it was like the team was freed of the burden of “Mitch has to pass it, Auston has to shoot it” when one of them isn’t there. They could take the best option that was available, which doesn’t sound like a wild concept but is maybe one they’ve skirted in the past while they tried to force plays on their biggest stars.
[…]
With the Leafs, you don’t need to watch a second of video. Everybody in the building knows what Marner wants to do, and they know where Matthews is trying to go. As good as they are at those things, if you work hard at shutting them down, it’s the equivalent of forcing a mediocre basketball player to go to their bad hand on a drive.
That is way more ink about the Leafs for context about the Islanders than we should ever do here, but we are in the midst of a very long break of no Islanders hockey, and even that break now has a break before we see the 4 Nations final. Take it for what it’s worth.
The 4 Nations final is set with Canada’s regulation win over Finland yesterday, which made the Sweden-U.S. nightcap moot, though it cost them Brady Tkachuk. The final is Thursday, then the Islanders are back in action Sunday, Feb. 23, for a disheartening loss to the Stars.
Random NHL News
- Arthur Staple joined Dan and Mike for Islanders Anxiety and still thinks Brock Nelson will be traded. [LHH]
- Canada is both excited and relieved to get to face USA again for the final. [Sportsnet]
- Now both Tkachuks are facing injury issues? Matthew was already sitting out a no-stakes game, now Brady left the game vs. Sweden, prognosis undisclosed. [NHL]
- Who wins the U.S.-Canada rematch? I don’t know, maybe we’ll find out Thursday. [ESPN]
- Denna Laing, who suffered a devastating spinal injury during a Winter Classic weekend in 2015, is honored for her work. [NHL]