New York Islanders Rank Low in Metro Power Ranking
The New York Islanders have started the 2016-17 poorly. Naturally, they figure quite poorly in this Metropolitan division power ranking.
The New York Islanders can’t go 1-3-0 and hope to factor positively in any power rankings. Unless it’s a power ranking of Orange and Blue teams.
Actually, scratch that, the Edmonton Oilers are 3-1-0. So even on that ridiculously specific criteria the Islanders fall to the very bottom of the ranking.
What’s the deal? Do they need a human battering ram like Matt Martin in order to score a few goals? Do they need Frans Nielsen to do everything for them in order to dictate the rhythm of the game? Or maybe they needed Kyle Okposo to just will the game in their direction.
Whatever it is that the Islanders had going for them last season, it’s gone this year. At least at the moment. It’s only been four games, and last I checked the Stanley Cup doesn’t get awarded in October.
Four games is too early to write off any team just yet. But it’s certainly not early enough to state who’s hot and who’s not. But rather than having to swipe left or right we’ll just tell you what team is running rampant in the division and which ones are starting to fall behind.
Oct 15, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Justin Williams (14) skates with the puck past New York Islanders right wing Ryan Strome (18) in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Capitals
Record Over Last 10: 2-0-1
The poet William Frederick Durst famously said: ” Keep on rollin’ babeh. You know what time it is.” A master of the English language.
And the Washington Capitals justs keep on rolling. Picking up five out of a potential six points from their opening three games. This is the well-oiled machine we all thought they would be.
The duo of Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom have combined for five points in the opening three games. They didn’t score against the Islanders, though. They left that up to Daniel Winnik. Who scored a brace to secure the two points against the Isles.
And that’s the strength of the Washington Capitals. The big name players don’t have to produce and they still win. Their offensive depth is such that I haven’t even mentioned players like Evgeny Kuznetsov, Marcus Johansson, T.J. Oshie or Andre Burakovsky.
And then to backstop that potent offense is Vezina trophy winner Bradon Holtby who so far this season maintains a masterful .942 SV% and a 1.45 GAA.
Good luck matching that offensive firepower and that brick wall between the pipes. At least during the regular season. The playoffs are a different story.
Oct 13, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Rangers
Record Over Last 10: 2-2-0
It burns me to have this team playing that well while the Islanders a so miserable right now. The New York Rangers are playing well for now at least.
Last night we all saw the Rangers lose to the Detroit Red Wings. Thanks to a red-hot Thomas Vanek. That’s right. Thomas Vanek is red hot. The 32-year-old Austrian has six points over four games. So far he looking like the Vanek of old.
But aside from that little hiccup against the Red Wings, the Rangers have been on fire. Tossing aside last year’s Stanley Cup finalist in a 7-4 contest where the Norwegian wonder Mats Zuccarello put up three points. Even newcomer Jimmy Vesey was in on the thrill, netting his first NHL goal. Kris Kreider has seven points through four games.
At the moment the Rangers can’t stop scoring. They lead the division in terms of goals for with 15 Kris Kreider has seven points through four games. Kris Kreider!
But all that optimism has to be taken with a grain of salt. The Rangers have also allowed 12 goals against in the same duration. They might be scoring, but they’re getting scored on almost as frequently. And let’s be honest, who thinks Kreider keeps up his 1.75 points per game pace?
Dec 13, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss (1) defends his net against New Jersey Devils right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) during the third period at Barclays Center. The Islanders defeated the Devils 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
New Jersey Devils
Record Over Last 10: 1-1-1
The New Jersey Devils season was defined before it even began. Taylor Hall. That’s all anyone is going to think of when they hear the team’s name when they think of New Jersey (that or closing bridges), and maybe terrible terrible trades.
We can all remember where we were when we heard that Taylor Hall was being traded to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson. A player who is in the prime of his career and is one of the best 5v5 players in the league, in Taylor Hall. For a right-handed defenseman.
In three games Taylor Hall has two goals, granted they came in the same game. But with Hall the Devils have a bonafide 60 point player, in his prime. And an arguably elite level goaltender in Cory Schneider. Two dumbfounding acquisitions.
The Devils don’t look great, after Hall the scoring depth chart looks fairly bleak. But They’ve already got three points up on the board a point a game keeps them relevant till at least March. anything even slightly better and the Devils could push for the post-season.
Apr 2, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) carries while holding off New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) during the third period at Barclays Center. Pittsburgh Penguins won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Penguins
Record Over Last 10: 2-1-1
The defending Stanley Cup champions rank middle of the pack for two reasons. It’s got nothing to do with personal bias. Or jealousy at their recent cup success. None of that.
The first is that Sidney Crosby isn’t playing. The best player in hockey isn’t playing due to a concussion. It came from what was potentially a routine coming-together along the boards at practice.
With Crosby out the Penguins are significantly weaker. Yes, they still have Evgeny Malkin and Phil Kessel. But that just won’t be enough for them.
Crosby was the best player for the Penguins in the 2015-16 regular season. (In the playoffs, not so much). His 85 points to end the season reminded us all that his best days aren’t over yet.
The second reason the Penguins rank this low is a 4-0 loss to the Carey Priceless Montréal Canadiens. Listen, if David Desharnais can put up two goals against you, something is wrong.
Sep 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers left wing Michael Raffl (12) battles with New York Islanders right wing Josh Ho-Sang (66) in front of goalie Eamon McAdam (34) during the third period during a preseason hockey game at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Islanders, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Flyers
Record Over Last 10: 1-1-1
The flyers seem to be everyone’s most improved team for 2016-17. Analyst have the Flyers as their sleeper. Pundits have them as their must watch.
But the Flyers are still a 1-1-1 team after the opening three contests. (So are the Devils, though). The difference is that one of the strength for the Flyers last years has reverted to type and become a weakness.
And that’s goaltending. Over his two starts so far Steve Mason is 0-1-1 with a 3.71 GAA and a .870 SV%. With serviceable numbers, the Flyers fortunes might change. It is only three games into the season after all.
If analysts and pundits want to save face they better pray and hope that Steve Mason can continue to be that goalie from 2015-16 that put up a 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%.
Oct 18, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) allows a goal to San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (not pictured) during the third period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Islanders
Record Over Last 10: 1-3-0
The isles just aren’t very good right now. Is that too blunt? It shouldn’t be. It’s not saying they’re garbage and will never amount to anything. It’s just a simple view at what the product on the ice has produced.
And it’s not that there aren’t any positive to take from the Isles opening 4 games. The rookies look pretty good. Anthony Beauvillier got his first NHL goal of the season against the Sharks.
And Mathew Barzal, while needing to remember not to play the puck from the penalty box looks like a nice piece for the future.
The rookies look decent (brain farts aside)
But the issue for the Islanders rests with the top line of Tavares-Ladd-Insert name Here. The duo have generated two points over a four-game sample. That’s just not enough for players who are making the type of money they’re…making.
With such a poor start, Coach Jack Capuano is already a +375 to be the first coach fired according to Bodog. No pressure Jack.
Mar 26, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Ron Hainsey (65) watches as the New York Islanders celebrate the overtime win at PNC Arena. The New York Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in the overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina Hurricanes
Record Over Last 10: 0-1-2
Ron Francis is building something nice in Carolina. It’s just going to take some time for it to materialize.
His blueline is young and dynamic with the likes of Justin Falk and Noah Hannifin proving to be the type of blueline studs any NHL team needs in order to seriously compete in the league.
His forward line, however, is lacking for now. In acquiring Teravainen and Bickell from the Chicago Blackhawks the Hurricanes added championship presence to a club looking to proof it wasn’t a one-hit wonder (although it totally was).
Jeff Skinner is everything everyone thought he would be when he was drafted. His only issue is and therefore the issue for the Carolina Hurricanes is can he stay healthy?
Last year was his first full season since his rookie year of 2010-11. A year in which he put up 63 points. Skinner hasn’t seen those kinds of highs for a while. But if he can stay in the lineup this season he just might.
Oct 15, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella looks on from the bench against the San Jose Sharks in the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Columbus Blue Jackets
Record Over Last 10: 0-2-0
Just bad realy bad. What happened to the Columbus Blue Jackets? They were in the playoffs just two years ago, and now here we are at the very bottom of the league.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The Blue Jackets were supposed to be getting better. Sure captain Nick Foligno had an absolutely ridiculous shooting percentage two years ago. There was no way it could be sustained. But there’s no way that was the catalyst?
A 0-2 start is on point from last season’s start and doesn’t bode well for John Tortorella, who must feel like the most hated man in hockey.
When he was hired by the Blue Jackets he was going to turn the tide. Maybe not immediately but eventually. Well, here we are in season two and it hasn’t gotten any better.
His stint with Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey wasn’t any better either. Leading the Americans to an embarrassing 0-3 group play that had them eliminated before the group play was even done.
Torts looks like a coach who’s tactics have fallen by the wayside. He just can’t seem to get it to work at an NHL level. It’s shame for Blue Jackets fans who are going to have to wait one more year for success. Maybe. But hey! At least it’s not Edmonton…right?
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