Islanders under high pressure

If the fate of the Canadian has been sealed for weeks, it is not the case on Long Island. The New York Islanders will need this 82^e and last game of their season to optimize, even ensure their chances of making the playoffs. How did they get to the extreme limit? State of play in five points.

(New York) Make or break

After 63 seconds of play on Monday night, the New York Islanders trailed the Washington Capitals 2-0. An uncomfortable situation for a team trying to consolidate its place in the playoffs, even more so against an eliminated club. The Islanders tried to get back into the game, but had to accept a painful 5-2 loss that left them in control of their destiny. This now depends on the performance of the Pittsburgh Penguins who, with a point behind, still have to play two games, against bottom teams in addition. If the Penguins win Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Islanders will need a point to ensure their survival, while waiting for Sidney Crosby’s team’s final game Thursday in Columbus. A victory against CH on Wednesday evening would give them a bit of air, without guaranteeing them anything.

Artisan of her misfortune

In many ways, this team was the architect of its own misfortune. Let’s examine the first words of journalist Kevin Kurz, of The Athletic, used to sum up both the loss to the Capitals and the Islanders’ season: “A slow start. A putrid numerical advantage. An inability to convert one’s chances into equal strength. Since the start of the campaign, the Islanders have scored just 54 goals in the first period, to 30^e NHL rank. On the power play, they posted a return of 15.5%, in 31^e league spot. At five against five, their attack arrives at 13^e level for the number of quality scoring chances per 60 minutes of play, according to the Natural Stat Trick website, but at 17^e level of the circuit in terms of goals scored. So many factors which, with a very small improvement, would have converted into two or three additional victories. These, today, would make all the difference.

Invincible Sorokin

The circumstances described in the previous paragraph explain why the team is not in a better position and is fighting for a place in the playoffs. But an additional question arises: why aren’t the Islanders worse off? The answer is simple. In net, Igor Sorokin seems simply invincible. Of all the goaltenders who have made at least 20 starts this season, his .925 save percentage is exceeded by only two members of his brotherhood. At five against five, the specialized sites determine that he is, with Juuse Saros, the goalkeeper who has “saved” the most goals in the NHL this season. If it weren’t for him, it would already be time for the balance sheets on Long Island.

A major absentee

Indisputable offensive point guard for the Islanders, Mathew Barzal has not played since February 18. During a seemingly banal sequence, he was hit in the “lower body”, probably in the knee. Almost two months later, no precise date of return to the game has yet been advanced. We had long hoped that he would play a few games at the end of the season, but it did not happen. We vaguely mentioned the start of the playoffs – although we have to get there – but there too, there is nothing certain. A fallen impact player, an unclear rehabilitation timeline… Sounds like we’ve heard that before. Let’s move on, however.

A shy succession

In Barzal’s absence, Brock Nelson continued his good work: his 73 points are already, by far, a personal career high. After him, it’s more timid. Part of the help came from a surprise contribution from minor league veteran Hudson Fasching, recalled at the end of December. Since Barzal was injured, the 27-year-old American has amassed 13 points in 22 games, surpassed only by Nelson (18 points) and Kyle Palmieri (14). Since his acquisition at a discount from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of February, the Swedish giant Pierre Engvall is doing quite well in the circumstances, with 9 points in 18 games. This is one point more, in the same interval, than Bo Horvat, acquired at a much higher price a month earlier. The former Vancouver Canucks captain was fueling more than a point a game on the West Coast; its production fell by half in New York. Tied to the Islanders for the next eight years, he will have plenty of time to recover…