Livescore
The book is out on how to beat the banged-up New York Islanders.
The opponents’ game plan isn’t anything complicated.
Knowing that the Islanders have two fringe NHL defensemen in the lineup and one rookie, along with three of the six defensemen playing an absurd amount of minutes lately, the plan is to go at the blue-liners any chance they can.
Although the Islanders are 4-1-1 since losing Adam Pelech, Mike Reilly, and Alexander Romanov, the opponent has garnered success in games when they do what New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen said postgame after the Islanders coughed up a 3-1 third-period lead before losing in overtime.
“Tonight, the process was to get pucks in, get in behind them and forecheck their defense,” Noesen said.
Related: Islanders Blow Another Lead, Roy On What They Have To Do To Stop This Trend
The Islanders’ defense seems to be getting tired as a whole, and understandably so.
Noah Dobson has played over 25 minutes in four straight games, 113:25 total.
He played 30:02 in their 4-3 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dobson has been on the ice for nine of 17 goals against, including the last three Devils’ goals and five Islanders’ goals.
Ryan Pulock has also played over 25 minutes in four straight games, 107:34 total, and has been on the ice for four goals against and five red lights for the Islanders.
He’s played over 29 minutes twice in those four games.
The last of the Big Three is Scott Mayfield, who has played 92:28, seeing three pucks go into his own net, but has been on the ice for eight of the Islanders.
“They do their best, man. They’re playing hard, and I appreciate what they’re doing right now,” Roy said. “Everybody’s giving what they could, and I thought they played well. I thought our guys did a really good job. They play big minutes. Cholowski and Hutton do their best, and they come and help us, and I’m proud of these guys. It’s a good team we played against.
“In the second period, they double shift their first two lines, and they had their legs, and we didn’t have ours, but we managed to take a 3-1 lead, and unfortunately, we couldn’t close. They scored on the empty net. So we need to find a way to close those games.”
Related: Islanders Blow Another Lead, Roy On What They Have To Do To Stop This Trend
Until the Islanders get healthy or get another defenseman, the opponents’ game plan will not change. This plan puts tremendous stress on the Islanders’ blue line.
Roy commended the efforts of Dennis Cholowski and Grant Hutton, two fringe NHL defensemen playing big roles for the Islanders.
But with the cap space the Islanders do have right now, $9.031 M, it may make sense to get a clear-cut NHL defenseman to help take some more minutes away from the Big Three, keeping them fresh and bringing more certainty when that said player is on the ice.
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