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New York Islanders

3 Takeaways: Together Again, Wahlstrom’s Return, Power Play Wakes Up

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2 years ago

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New York Islanders

The New York Islanders had to battle but after sixty minutes of play they left UBS Arena with 4-3 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Flyers. Here are the three takeaways from their third straight victory over Philadelphia.

Separation Does Not Last Long For Duo

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz elected to separate two linemates, in Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal, for the contest against Philadelphia. He believed that some time away could be good for the duo, as he placed Lee on the second line with Brock Nelson and Kieffer Bellows. Anthony Beauvillier was placed on Barzal’s wing, something that has not happened in quite some time.

That lasted less than a period, as a shift with under three minutes to go featured Lee alongside Barzal and a goal came from it.

 

And together those two remained for the rest of the contest.

The Lee and Barzal tandem may not have been working wonders this season but this goal could serve as one of those sparks to get that line going.

“Yeah, you go in with the plan and it just didn’t feel like it was happening,” Trotz said following the game. “So we change it back.”

Wahlstrom Got Stronger As Game Went On

After being a healthy scratch on Saturday night, Oliver Wahlstrom was back in the New York Islanders lineup on Tuesday night alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Zach Parise. He recorded two shots on goal, four hits, and a takeaway in 14:08 minutes.

“I liked Wally’s response,” Trotz said following Thursday’s win. “I mean, he had like five shots but think only two hit the net. I wish there was one play he could take back or one play I want him to take back but other than that he was pretty solid.”

“Sometimes he tries to do too much by himself, a little more give-and-go in his game, but I didn’t mind his game at all.”

It was not a strong start to the game for Wahlstrom, but Trotz, rather than bench him, elected to keep throwing him back out on the ice.

Wahlstrom missed the net on an early power-play chance in the first period and then followed it up with a weak pass to the point that was broken up. Shortly after, on the same power play, Wahlstrom came around the left circle, and instead of dishing the puck to the point, he tried to deke his way through two Flyer players.

This was a perfect example of what Trotz said was an issue for the young forward, trying to do too much.

Wahlstrom started to elevate his play as the game went on, doing more of the little things.

On the Islanders first goal of the contest, Wahlstrom took the eyesight away from Flyers netminder Martin Jones as Noah Dobson’s wrist shot from the top of the right circle made its’ way into the back of the net.

Wahlstrom also was the one who put the pressure on Flyers forward Zack MacEwen, which forced a delay of game penalty that led to the Parise go-ahead marker (more on that goal below).

Wahlstrom recorded his takeaway with just over four minutes to play in the third, as he stripped the puck from a Flyer in the neutral zone. In such a tight game, his ability to hone in on his defensive game was a small detail that Trotz has been looking for from his young forward.

Islanders Power-Play Drought Ends

The New York Islanders power play came through just once on four opportunities in the win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. But that one goal ended a 0-12 stretch.

On that power-play opportunity, the second of the contest for the Islanders, they registered three shots on Flyers netminder Martin Jones, one ending up in the back of the net.

A nifty feed by Zach Parise down low found Barzal alone at the back post for his first power-play goal of the season.

The Islanders had two more opportunities with the man advantage and collected three shots.

While not coming during the power play, Parise’s go-ahead goal came just five seconds following the expiration of Morgan Frost’s penalty with 8:09 to go in the third.

Following a short-handed chance by the Flyers, Josh Bailey quickly got the puck to Nelson at the Islanders blue line, followed by some pretty passing before a Parise one-timer.

Although the power play only came through statistically once on four tries, they shook off a rough first chance, came through for a big goal at that point in the contest, and were able to take the lead just after one expired.

 

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