It’s been three wins in a row for the New York Islanders. What a time. The Isles are still at the bottom of the East, but things are looking up. So winners and losers are…
For a number of weeks, it’s been hard to find a winner out of the tire fire that was the New York Islanders. Bottom of the East, bottom of the league. Nothing was going well. Now, with three in a row there’s optimism.
It’s not like everything is going well. Thea team is still one of the worst in the league, including this nice little run of form they’re on.
So what does that mean for our winners and losers for the week? Has the script flipped, are the Isles filled with a glut of winners?
No, not really, but some who were once losers might now be winners.
Nov 23, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) and center Alan Quine (10) celebrate after a goal in the third period against the Los Angeles Kings during a NHL hockey game at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Predators 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Winner: Anders Lee
Anders Lee is the definition of a streaky player. When he’s going good it’s great, when he’s going bad he looks completely lost out there. He can be a force once he goes to the front of the net. That’s what he’s been doing and it’s been working.
In the last five games, he’s got four goals, including this game-winner, against the Pittsburg Penguins.
Go up three, give up three, win it late.
It was a wild night in Brooklyn. #PITvsNYI pic.twitter.com/qRJ2MChwT5
— NHL (@NHL) December 1, 2016
The frustrating thing with Lee is that he doesn’t always go to the front of the net like this. But when he does he usually finds himself in good scoring positions.
Lee isn’t a particularly good skater, he doesn’t have an overwhelming shot, but he does have size. He is tough to clear out from in front of the goalie as seen in the video, and that’s when the offense begins to come out.
Last week he was my loser of the week. At that point, he only had one goal. Now, at five goals he is beginning to turn his season around. Maybe it’s too much to expect another 25 goals out of him like in his rookie year, but I do think he’s better than the 15 he put up last year.
I don’t think anyone would complain if he found the net 20 times. Lee is finding a groove now, let’s see if he can sustain this success he’s had this week.
Nov 30, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center Ryan Strome (18) controls the puck between Pittsburgh Penguins center Jake Guentzel (59) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ian Cole (28) during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: Ryan Strome
Ryan Strome is difficult to figure out. At times it seems like the talent is there. You don’t score 50 points in the NHL by accident, which he did in is rookie year. But, other times he looks completely lost on the ice.
Strome sat against the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames, back to back games. He started against the Penguins on Wednesday night but didn’t record a point.
The thing with Strome is I think he needs to play in order to get better and in a groove but it’s hard to justify playing him when he gives you nothing offensively. It’s quite the conundrum for Jack Capuano.
Luckily Strome was back at his natural position of center where he looks to be more comfortable. The problem is the Islanders have more centers than they know what to do with.
So far this year Strome has six points, which puts him on pace for 24, which is four less than his abysmal total from last year.
What can they do with Ryan Strome? That is the very complex question. Ultimately a trade might be in order. It seems like him and Capuano don’t get along. Maybe it’d be better for both of them if the Islanders moved on from Strome.
What would Strome bring you on the open market? He’s now two years removed from a 50 point season and trending backwards.
Dec 1, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) and Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) battle for the puck in the second period at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Winner: John Tavares
I know, when is John Tavares not a winner? But this week is a bit different. Over the course of the week, John Tavares tallied his first goal in 25 days. Yup, bet you didn’t realize that.
Tavares was in a scoring drought, like most of the team to be fair. But 25 days is a mighty long wait to for the team’s superstar talent to go between scoring goals. It’s not like he was useless in those 25 days. Over those 9 games where he didn’t score a goal he still contributed six points.
Sharing the wealth is great but we want Johnny T to get some dingers. (I hope that baseball term can translate to the ice).
And against Calgary on November 28th, the wait was finally over. Tavares scores his first goal since scoring against Philadelphia on November 3rd. Coincidentally, that’s when the streak happened…
I’m not saying Tavares is single-handedly responsible for the Isles fortunes, but generally, a team’s fortunes go as the fortunes of their superstar. (If they have one. Sorry Arizona).
The Islanders are back in action against the Red Wings on Sunday. Hopefully, they can make it four in a row and actually start to push up the standings in the east. Keep an eye on John Tavares, if they’re to make it four in a row, he’ll be at the center of things. (Get it? He plays center?)
Dec 1, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Islanders left wing Jason Chimera (25) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the third period at Verizon Center. The Islanders won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: Jason Chimera
I said it a few times already this year; 2016-17 is going to be a down year in terms of production from Jason Chimera. Sure, he got a goal aginst his former team bringing him up to eight points on the season.
But even with that, Chimera is on pace for 28 points on the season a far cry from his 40 last season with the aforementioned Capitals.
But Chimera has been going through peaks and valleys for the last few years now. Here’s his production over the last three years before becoming an Islander:
2015-16: 40
2014-15: 19
2013-14: 46
And that 28 points I have him on pace for, well that’s assuming he plays a full 82 game season. It’s possible, he’s done it twice in the last three seasons. But at 37, the possibility of an injury is very real. At the very least his involvement might diminish as the season wears on. Give his old bones some rest.
We found some losers this week, it wasn’t too hard afterall. But who cares, the team is winning! Now, if only Andrew Ladd can find a vein of form. That would be fantastic.
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