If the Islanders don’t improve their special teams play, they’re not going to make the playoffs. It’s really as simple as that.
As coach Ted Nolan has said many times, the Isles can match up with anybody in the NHL at even strength. If they could break even on the power-play and penalty-killing units, they would be one of the top teams in a tough Eastern Conference and a threat to advance in the playoffs.
There’s no denying the numbers posted by the Islanders through the first third of the season. The Islanders’ special teams play was absolutely abysmal during the three-game losing streak that began the season. They turned it around in the next nine games when they went 6-2-1, but in the past 16 games (8-7-1), they have reverted to their earlier form. In fact, it’s a testament to how hard they have been working that the Isles have managed to play slightly better than .500 hockey over those 16 games.
If you take out that nine-game stretch of solid special teams play and compare it to the other 19 games, the difference is stark. During their 6-2-1 stretch when their power play was clicking, the Isles scored on 27.7 percent of their power-play chances (13 of 47), while their opponents scored on a still respectable 18.8 percent of their power plays (9 of 48). The Isles had power-play goals in seven of those nine games, including all six wins, while their opponents scored power-play goals in six of those nine games.
In the other 19 games of the season, the Isles have a combined 8-10-1 record. They scored on only 10 percent of their power plays (8 of 80) in that stretch, getting power-play goals in seven of the 19 games. In contrast, their opponents have scored on 21.4 percent of their power plays (25 of 117), netting power-play goals in 15 of those 19 games. That’s a big difference to try and overcome at even strength.
There’s one other key point demonstrated by the numbers. During the successful 6-2-1 stretch, the Isles had just one less power-play opportunity than their opponents. In the other 19 games, their opponents had 37 more chances with the man advantage, an average of almost two more per game.
When Alexei Yashin returns from his sprained knee next weekend, it undoubtedly will improve the power play. And obviously, the Islanders must continue to avoid penalties as much as possible, and maybe Nolan has make more of an issue about the imbalance in calls with the officials.
But most of all, Nolan and general manager Garth Snow need to focus on finding help for their power play before the Feb. 27 trade deadline and to work on making their current power play more cohesive. If the NHL is a special teams game now, then, the Islanders must pay special attention to improving that part of their game.
HOLIDAY BREAK FOR THE ISLANDERS BLOG: Generally, I take my last week of vacation the week before Christmas to find the time necessary to organize a holiday celebration for my family. But in my first season on the Islanders, I feel it’s important to make every trip, especially since Newsday is the only newspaper traveling with the team, and I want to limit the number of games I miss.
With a five-day gap between tomorrow night’s home game against Florida and the next game in Pittsburgh, this is the perfect time to take my holiday break. Newsday’s Eric Boland will cover the Florida game, and I will return in Pittsburgh on Dec. 15.
Again, I want to thank Islanders’ fans for the strong interest they have shown, and I want you to know I’m paying attention to your concerns and expect to provide some answers in the near future to the Coliseum-related issues many have raised here. Until then, my best wishes to all for a wonderful holiday season.
Comments (21)
another big crowd.what was it 7,000 and 4,000 were freebies
The claimed attendance was actually 9551, and I don't believe they are doing any free ticket promos at the moment. Still about 4000 shy of a decent weeknight turnout though... perhaps Wacko Wang will do the right thing and make ticket prices a little more reasonable for next season.
Thanks Greg... We appreciate your hard work. Enjoy the holidays
Thanks Greg, looking forward to having you back next week...
I don't think the attendance even has much to do with the prices- for example, I have an student ID and only pay $16. I just think the Isles have to have an extended period of good hockey and fans need to be convinced this is a playoff team. Missing the playoffs in the year after the lockout was REALLY bad timing.
Players with guts and character needed! This team has none. No gutsy and character players equals little excitement, which equals a bad product, which equals empty seats. I'm 34 and still remember the good old days when Vukota and Baumgartner were here. The fans loved them because they scared opponents with their fists and with their hits. They even had their own fan clubs. Even our beloved Stanley Cup teams had those types of players. Half the so-called "fans" these days don't even know how many Stanley Cups this team has won let alone who Mick Vukota and Ken Baumgartner are. But it's recruiting the new fan that the Islanders care about and to hell with the longtime fans. A multicolored dinosaur mascot? High School girls on skates to shovel snow on the ice? Can you imagine proud organizatiosn in sports like the Yankees or Canadiens or Maple Leafs using gimmicks like this? It's no wonder the longtime fans are no-shows. This franchise should remember its roots.
To Alex- Maybe some of the new fans don't remember Vukota et al, but they sure remember Steve Webb. Same kind of player really. No talent, no ability, but an enforcer who was incredibly popular with the fans. The kind of player who gets the fans into the game. You look at the roster now and I'm struggling to find someone other than Blake who can get the fans into the game with a single on-ice move. And nobody will confuse Blake with Vukota, Webb, etc. for sure
Brandon, that is exactly the type of player I'm talking about. You look around the league and every team has that type of player, one who goes out and just hits the $&!+ out of the opponent when he's out there and gets the fans and his teammates pumped up. Their hits can change the momentum of a game entirely. Rangers have Hollweg, Devils have Janssen, Preds have Tootoo, Ducks have Parros, Leafs have Tucker and are about to bring up Nash. Remember Webb and Cairns etc in that Leafs series? It wasn't the offense or defense that made that series so much fun and pushed the team to seven games to every hockey fans surprise. It was the hard hitting and guts and character of players and the fans and other players who fed off that. Actually Webb would be a great idea as you mentioned. And look at how popular it is when teams in sports bring back fan favorites. Just yesterday, the Bombers brought back Petitte and every Yankee fan in New York is wetting his shorts. Now that you bring up Webb's name I wonder if that's a consideration of management. It wouldn't hurt putting fans in the seats and he played with Garth Snow so Snow knows him. Why not, I say give it a shot. The fans loved Colley last year too before his career ended and he was a hitting machine too. That's the kind of stuff that gets the crowd really into it and the rest of the team feeds off that. Fans love that stuff and that's the most important thing to give the fans an atmosphere. If not Webb, then go out and get a guy like Tootoo or one of the other guys I mentioned above. What's Webb's story anyway? Did he retire, was he even offered a tryout at camp. Greg how about an update on him and Colley: two more of my favorite former Islanders.
Greg: I love your articles and fully agree with the special team needs if we've any realistic hope of getting to the playoffs and advancing. Perhaps Ted should be looking at packaging off a few of our prospects for the specialists he wants. Guys like Neilson, Campoli and Tambellini would give the coach who's playing for this year the guy he wants now.
Greg: Maybe the problem to our special teams is right in our own backyard? Hasn't anyone noticed the play of Brandon Nolan in Bridgeport. He's ready to step into a big league PP & PK role right now. This simple move could solidify a playoff spot and Garth's job at the same time.
1) Where are all the Campoli fans? In Bridgeport he's got 2g 2a and is a -12! Not exactly tearing it up ...
2) I really have to say it again, I'm proud to be a Islander fan but Isles fans are the biggest frontrunners out there! I don't make a lot of money at all, but I've been to almost everygame. When they're not playing hard people use that as an excuse why they don't go - not they're playing hard and it's the ticket prices. When Wang brings the ticket prices down what will it be next?
azs: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. If you ever saw Bridgeport and what he has to work with; you'd be surprised Campoli has any points at all.
If they keep bringing in solid additions like Brandon Nolan ( name sound familiar???), that whole team will be minus this and minus that. The management joke is not contained to the Island.
Mr. Logan, I just wanted to say a quick thank you for the job you have done so far this year. I have to admit I was extremely dissapointed when I found out alan hahn wouldn't be coming back this season, afterall he had great articles and even wrote a few books on the team. I figured we were just getting associated press articles put in paper, and as a big islander fan reading those articles every morning for the last 4 years has become part morning routine. I think you are doing a better job than alan now and I love the blog you have started. Have a great holiday with your family
Thanks so much for the honest, informative, and much-needed blog, and enjoy the time off!
Can anyone out there recommend other NYI blogs that are worth checking out?
Garth: What's the hold up in getting Brandon Nolan up to the big club??? He's right in our own back yard and could solve the PP/PK woes for his father.
Bringing back Bossy, Trottier and Potvin couldn't help a bantam hockey coach in Bridegport so don't be confused with Campoli's numbers. Maybe when Yash and Hunter come down for their conditioning stints (yea, right) they can play with Brandon Nolan on the big line.
Nice try Miggsey, but you can't blame Campoli's performance on everyone else to try and save face. I heard just the other day from someone who goes to almost every game in Bridgeport that Campoli's play has simply been awful since his return, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Brandon Nolan or anyone else. A big part of his problem has reportedly been laziness, and you can never blame laziness on anyone but yourself.
P.S. who's this "Neilson" you keep blabbing about? Did Bridgeport sign one of Roger Neilson's kids, or did you by some chance mean Robert Nilsson? One would expect that an enlightened fan like yourself, with such a strong grasp on the talented youth in the system, would know the guy's name.
Darth: Your commentary is like a weak cup of tea; watered down and no substance. It always reminds me of a toilet flushing. You'd better start listening to and watching the Bridgeport games yourself because your "sources" are equally as uninformed as yourself when it comes to assessing Campoli's play. Since you consider yourself the guru of Islander hockey, think back to last year and the commentary of his team mates, the coaching staff and the press; Campoli was the exact opposite of lazy. Once again, you prove yourself to be uninformed.
I have gas Greg. Thxs.
Steve Webb retired a couple of years ago due to career ending back problems. I saw him out a bar about 2 years ago and he was the man. Loved that I knew who he was and we BS'd for about 20 minutes....
Would love for someone to bring Steve Webb's name up to Garth Snow if you're going to that meet-and-greet at the Coliseum tonight. I don't think another Islander has been given Webb's #20 either since he played before the lockout, wonder if they are leaving the door open for him. He didn't play much but when he did the crowds and players would get that strong zing of energy after a shift full of his big hits.
Webb was fun to watch, but even when he was at his best, he wasn't an NHL talent. He made it as a heart and soul player, but as much fun as he could be to watch, he was never good enough to have a regular shift. Skill is king in the new NHL, and Webb wouldn't help in that regard, even ignoring injuries and his years away from the game.