The Islanders might need appreciated how they performed within the trio of losses that led into Sunday’s win in opposition to the Bruins, however there was one noticeable shift in technique that helped result in the 5-4 extra time win in Boston.
Their defensemen shot the puck. Early and sometimes.
“That’s what we want,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned. “More than this, we want bodies in front of the net. Try to take the eyes — make sure the goalie can’t see the puck, basically. And if we throw it behind the net, we know we’re gonna have possession of the puck. So I thought we did a really nice job in that regard.”
By uncooked shot makes an attempt, the Islanders did their finest job of the 12 months, with 82 of them at five-on-five — 14 greater than their earlier season excessive.
That was largely all the way down to their defensemen.
Of the highest 4, Alexander Romanov and Adam Pelech — the Isles’ two much less offensively inclined defensemen — each recorded season highs in shot makes an attempt in opposition to the Bruins, with eight and 9, respectively.
Noah Dobson’s whole of eight was his fourth highest of the 12 months.
Ryan Pulock had a extra pedestrian three shot makes an attempt however was probably the most offensively impactful defenseman of the evening, scoring a objective and producing two assists.
Roy known as it Pulock’s finest efficiency since he took over as head coach.
Whereas most of these shot makes an attempt got here to nothing — 47 had been both blocked or sailed huge — the shoot-first mentality created a gradual stream of possession and strain that stored up by means of many of the sport.
That’s been a rarity for the Islanders this season, as they common a pedestrian 56.78 shot makes an attempt per 60.
“I thought our D played a great game … getting pucks through,” captain Anders Lee mentioned. “All of them. I thought Rommy got a bunch through. Dobber got a bunch through. Pulls was great at the blue line. I thought this was one of their better games. When they’re going the way they are, it makes a huge difference on our offense.”
On Sunday, Bo Horvat grew to become the primary Islander with each a shorthanded objective and an extra time objective in the identical sport since John Tavares on Jan. 1, 2018, in opposition to the Canadiens, per group statistician Eric Hornick.
Chris Campoli (2008-09), Michael Peca (2001-02) and Brent Sutter (1990-91) are the opposite three Islanders to perform the feat.
The Islanders didn’t maintain follow Monday after coming back from Boston.
