Stefen’s Stat Line: Pushing Streaks, Season Milestones, Career Marks

I know it’s a little bit late in the season, but I think this is a segment for NYI Hockey Now that the average fan will like. After each New York Islanders contest, we will look back at the game’s statistics, who’s streaking, who’s hit certain milestones, etc.

Let’s give it a try, and you let me know in the comment sections if this is something you are interested in reading.

The New York Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals by a score of 4-1 in D.C., a game that had no standings ramifications for the New York Islanders, but a Capitals win could have seen them jump the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Metropolitan Standings for third place. It did not happen.

The Islanders were outshot 33-26 by the Capitals and failed to win the face-off game (47.6%). The Islanders special team was dominant as they were two for two on the power play and killed off all four Capital power-play chances against. The Islanders were outshot 21-18 but lead in blocks 17-12.

Pushing Streaks

Defenseman Ryan Pulock scored on the power play to tie the contest at one. Not only was that his second power-play goal in as many nights, but it also pushed his point streak to a modest three games. Back on Saturday, in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Pulock got the primary assist on Kieffer Bellows’ third-period goal.

Pulock now has five goals and 15 assists on the season in 55 games played, with three goals and two assists coming over his last 15 contests.

Sticking with Kieffer Bellows, he returned the assist favor from Pulock, as he notched the primary assist on the defenseman’s power-play goal. It was probably the easiest assist of his NHL career, as he moved the puck from above the right circle to Pulock, who was ready and waiting to let his one-timer go.

That assist gave Bellows his third straight game with a point, as he recorded a secondary assist on Pulock’s power-play goal against the Carolina Hurricanes, and like mentioned above scored against Buffalo.

Casey Cizikas pushed his point streak to two games with his dazzling shorthanded goal on Tuesday. He had the secondary assist on Ross Johnston’s goal back on Sunday against Carolina.

Netminder Ilya Sorokin, for the fifth straight game, not only faced over 30 shots but stopped at least 30 shots. He stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced, denying all five high-danger shots that came his way. The only shot that beat him was via a deflection from the slot.

Over that span, Sorokin is 2-2-1 with a .937 SV%, a 2.42 GAA, and a shutout.

Season Milestones

With the secondary assist on Noah Dobson’s goal, the eventual game-winner to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead, Mathew Barzal notched his 40th assist of the season. Since breaking into the NHL as an everyday NHLer back in 2017-18 (Calder-winning season), Barzal has reached the 40-assist mark in three of his five seasons.

Career Marks

With the one-time tally from downtown on Tuesday, Anders Lee notched his 27th goal of the season and 44th point. His 44-point production this season passes his 43-point total from 2019-20, with this season now being his fourth-highest point total over his 10-year NHL career. Given what he had to go through last season with the torn ACL, to needing some time to find his game, seeing him produce the way he has, has been a real positive on this season.

With the shorthanded tally, Casey Cizikas recorded his 10th-career shorthanded goal. It was his first shorthanded goal in two years.