Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Yes, the Islanders played too much of Monday night’s game short-handed, and yes, there were parts of the game that were ugly, but collecting two points is a solid way to start a road trip, especially when faced with the self-inflicted adversity of taking six penalties. For their coach, the win was in some ways more impressive than the recent third-period comebacks that have been the team’s early season calling card.
"We've had some comebacks, but tonight, I thought we did a really good job with the lead and it was a really a character win. It was as much character win or more as the comebacks because, we fought through a lot of adversity."- Lane Lambert
As we wrote on Monday, it was in the Islanders’ interests to try something new and play with a lead on this four-game road trip. They did just that, scoring first on the PP and then protecting a 3-2 lead late behind stellar goaltending from Semyon Varlamov, who made big saves during a late Ottawa push.
Winners of 9 of 11, it still feels like the Islanders are searching for that full 60-minute effort more times than not, but on this night, like most nights, they found a way to win. This time, having the edge on special teams and getting their usual top-tier play in net was enough.
Coming up, Pageau pulls the ol’ switcheroo, and the Travis Hamonic trade keeps looking better. Plus, Mathew Barzal keeps collecting apples without goals at a record pace, Beau’s first and only hat trick is revisited, and Shannon Hogan makes a run for it.
Let’s dive in.
🏒 IN SHORT: Behind 36 saves from Semyon Varlamov and two power-play goals, the Islanders defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-2 Canadian Tire Centre on Monday Night. Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist, and Mathew Barzal had two more assists for the Islanders (11-6-0), who got power-play goals from Oliver Wahlstrom and JG Pageau. Brock Nelson added an empty net goal to seal the win. Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist for the Senators (5-9-1), who have lost eight of nine (1-7-1). Cam Talbot made 31 saves in defeat.
KEY MOMENT(s):
🔷 At 11:53 of the first period, Oliver Wahlstrom put the Isles in front on the power play as he ripped a low, hard wrist shot past Talbot for a 1-0 lead. Barzal picked up an assist, but the primary went to Anders Lee, who thread the cross-ice pass through the defender’s legs and on the tape of Wahlstrom’s stick.
Not many players can beat a goaltender clean from that spot on the ice.
🔶 In his hometown, JG Pageau played his best game of the season. He played a major role on the PK throughout but also scored the GWG on the PP to extend the lead to 3-1. Pageau has been on the PP more often because of his face-off prowess and here was rewarded, backhanding a rebound past Talbot.
3 REACTIONS
❶ A CHARACTER WIN: "It's nice to score the first goal, that's for sure. We've had some comebacks, but tonight, I thought we did a really good job with the lead and it was a really a character win. It was as much character win or more as the comebacks because, we fought through a lot of adversity." - Lane Lambert
❷ RIPPING IT AROUND: "The puck movement has been really good. Obviously the top unit has been ripping it around and Nelson's been hot too, so it's good to see and it gives us confidence too when the power play is going." - Oliver Wahlstrom
❸ A LOT OF SACRIFICE: "They have a good power play, but we were well prepared, The guys battled hard, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of blocked shots and battles that we won. Varly in net was outstanding." - JG Pageau
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders have the next two nights and are traveling back to Long Island before skating in Nashville against the Predators.
Face-off is set for 8:00 PM
📊 STANDINGS:
📰 NEWS: Forward Josh Bailey was a healthy scratch for the second time this season. The winger has five points while averaging 15:17 of ice time through 15 games this season. “Josh has been fine,” head coach LaneLambert said. “We wanted someone who was more physical for this game against this team.”
◾️ Ross Johnston was in the lineup in Bailey’s place and took a bad roughing penalty against Long Island’s own Shane Pinto in front of the Senators’ bench. Overall, he logged 8:40 with three hits and fought Austin Watson in the first.
◾️ In The Athletic, Kevin Kurz writes about how Zach Parise has settled into being a dependable and thriving depth piece for the Isles at age 38.
KNOWS HIS ROLE: “This year, I think coming in, just being more comfortable with the players and in the locker room, said Parise. “Honestly, knowing my role, knowing what my job on this team is, you just kind of settle into that and let everything happen.”
◾️ In Nassau Coliseum news, per Andrew Gross, the New York Riptide of the National Lacrosse League announced a multi-year lease extension with the arena to remain as the primary tenant. The Riptide has nine home games this season, starting on Dec. 3 vs. San Diego.
🧠 HOCKEY IQ: It was a play I have never seen before. During the second period, Pageau noticed that Scott Mayfield was without a stick, and rather than have him skate all the way to the bench, he simply dropped his own stick at the blueline for Mayfield, got the defenseman’s stick from the bench, and then made the switch during the successful penalty-kill. How about that?
🥰THANK YOU, TRAVIS! Ottawa Senators D Travis Hamonic is one of the highest character guys ever to wear the Islanders sweater. And all these years later, Islanders fans are still fond of the defenseman, not just because of what he did on and off the ice, but the players the Isles were able to select with the picks acquired from the Calgary Flames after the 2016-17 season.
With the emergence of Ruslan Iskhakov this season and Samuel Bolduc returning to the form from two years ago, it’s possible that trade will have returned three NHL players for the Isles - including one special one in Dobson.
📚 SOUND SMART: On Wahlstrom’s goal, Mathew Barzal’s secondary assist made him the first Islander since Pierre Turgeon in 1992-93 with 17 assists in the season’s first 17 games. He then collected No. 18 on Pageau’s power-play goal in the third period and is among the league leaders in the category.
Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, Barzal is the first Islander in 38 years to have at least eighteen assists in the first seventeen games. Four players (Mike Bossy, Brent Sutter, Pat LaFontaine and John Tonelli) did so that year.
🗓 THIS DATE IN ISLANDERS HISTORY: On November 15, 2018, Anthony Beauvillier registered his first hat trick and an assist as the Islanders held off the New York Rangers 7-5 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. "I was pretty pumped before the game," the Quebec native said. "It was snowing outside, felt like Christmas. And playing the Rangers is always fun. It feels good to get the win."
🎧 Eyes on Isles Podcast: Getting Acclimated: Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and new recurring guest/co-host Andy Francess (@andyfrancess) get acquainted with one another and talk about what they like and what they still need to see from this Islanders team that has won 9 of 11 after a 4-2 win in Ottawa on Monday night.
🔗 Islanders ride power play, penalty kill to win over Senators by Andrew Gross, Newsday “Special teams made all the difference for the Islanders as they opened a four-game road trip with a tense 4-2 win over the Senators on Monday at Canadian Tire Centre.”
And we leave you with this ….a humorous moment during the second intermission as Shannon Hogan and Thomas Hickey (mostly Shannon) had to dodge an incoming Zamboni machine. Hickey knows how to block shots, but not those things.
Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until the next newsletter.
And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Mets, too.