Takeaways: Beauvillier, Bailey Propel Islanders in Romp Over Rangers

Offense has been hard to come by for the New York Islanders, but that changed in a big way Tuesday night against their arch-rivals.

The Islanders led from end to end, skating to a 6-1 win over the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum.

After a three-game stretch where they only scored two, the Islanders scored five goals in the final two periods of this game alone. Anthony Beauvillier led the way with four points and Josh Bailey in his return to the lineup added three (two goals) as it was a team effort.

Let’s look at some of the details of this game further.

Killer B’s potent for Isles 

As was said in the first few paragraphs here, it was the efforts of Beauvillier and Bailey who that helped the Islanders continually get on the scoreboard.

At 5-on-5 play in the first period, the Islanders held nearly 65 percent of the shot attempts but were kept off the board for the first 90 percent of the frame.

But with a strong forecheck and nifty puck handling from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Islanders had a golden opportunity that Josh Bailey cashed in on the doorstep. Having missed the last two games, it was just what he and the Islanders needed.

On the power play in the second, it was Beauvillier who got the Islanders’ third goal that really seemed to put the game firmly in the Islanders’ hands.

Another look at Bailey's second of the game! pic.twitter.com/ur5WDy8xOQ

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 21, 2021

Beauvillier played a helping hand when he flung a pass behind his back to set up a Bailey one-timer in the third period. The Islanders desperately needed a jolt on offense, and these two provided it. Their line passed the eye test and the analytics one. The 78.67 expected goals for percentage they had as a trio with Pageau was the best on the team.

Pageau, Pageau 

When he was acquired at the trade deadline in 2020, Pageau played his first game as an Islander against the Rangers and he promptly scored his first goal with his new teammates.

Historically, Pageau has played against the Rangers, coming into the game with 15 points against them, which was tied for the second most he had against any opponent. With two points on Tuesday, he now has 17 in 24 career games.

He had the aforementioned assist and a one-timer goal in the slot off a feed from Beauvillier. His last two goals this year have come in wins against the Rangers. Overall, he’s now tied for third on the team in goals with three.

Stop. Score. Roll. pic.twitter.com/s82bKcun25

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 21, 2021

Making the most of chances

The Islanders did dominate the possession game in the first period, but as the scored turned in the Islanders’ favor, the Rangers had more overall chances in the second and third, but it was the Islanders who had more high danger chances (16-11) in all situations.

And for a power play that’s been struggling the last month-plus, Beauvillier’s tally on the man advantage was a welcome sight.

The Michael Dal Colle-Brock-Nelson-Kyle Palmieri line had a strong effort together, so it’ll be interesting to see if Trotz keeps that group together.

The last few games he’s put Travis Zajac with Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle. This game it paid off as Zajac helped Eberle connect on a 2-on-1 in the closing minutes. That line had an expected goals percentage of 58.14 at 5-on-5.