Islanders Plus/Minus: New York Rolls Over Buffalo Again | NYHN+

Another day, another 5-2 win for the New York Islanders against the Buffalo Sabres.

It might not have been the prettiest start in the world, but the Islanders rolled with four goals in the second period to extend their point streak to seven games.

“I don’t think we were sluggish,” Barry Trotz said of the opening period after the game. “I liked our response. We knew we had lots of time, we just had to stick to what we had to do.”

It marked the Islanders’ fifth win against Buffalo this year in as many tries.

As always, there were things to like and issues to quibble with, so let’s take a closer look at those items in the Plus/Minus breakdown.

Plus 

Barzal’s goal of the year

There hasn’t been much that already hasn’t been said about Mat Barzal’s spectacular goal, but it was a thing of beauty. For Barzal to get to the puck and make Rasmus Ristolainen fall down in the process was impressive enough.

But to corral the puck, get it between his legs and finish it off was on another level. In the context of the game, it got the Islanders on the board and jump-started a four-goal period. Let’s just say Carter Hutton and Ristolainen won’t be looking on this one with fond memories.

“It’s kind of a move you kind of do, instinctual, just kind of messing around with it in practice,” Barzal said. “Then you weirdly do it in a game. It was a lot of instincts and being in the moment and just reacting.”

It was not the first time Barzal has used a through-the-legs move in the NHL, as he did it off a rebound last season against the Dallas Stars.

So where does it sit in Barzal’s mind?

“Probably put it top two or three in my career,” Barzal said.

Christian Arnold has more about the goal here and here.

Second is the best 

It’s not how you start but how you do in the second period, right?

Well that’s how it shook out Saturday. Held off the scoresheet in the opening 20 minutes, the Islanders burst out in the second for four goals.

Barzal, Brock Nelson, Cal Clutterbuck and Scott Mayfield each potted one to put the game out of reach. The second period barrage was the highest output of any second period the Islanders have had since Feb. 7, 2016 against the Edmonton Oilers.

The interesting part of the period was that they were out-attempted 19-13 overall, per Natural Stat Trick, but did hold a 7-3 edge in high danger chances, proving to be the difference.

“Try to get on them as best as possible,” Clutterbuck said. “Turn pucks over and try and create opportunities that way. … Sometimes you can have periods that are like that.”

Home cookin’ 

Even without fans, the Islanders have had home-ice advantage in this shortened 2021 season. They remain the only team without a regulation loss at home, going 9-0-2 at Nassau Coliseum to begin the season.

That’s one game better than their 2017-18 home start when they produced a point in 10 straight home games at Barclays Center.

Thanks to decisive wins against the Sabres and the Bruins, the Islanders are one of the best offensive teams on home ice this season. They rank fifth in the league in scoring with 3.73 goals per game at home and have the second-best goals allowed per game at 1.91. The power play also ranks third (37.5 percent) and the penalty kill is second (90 percent) at home.

Also of note, it was the Isles’ first time wearing their reverse retros. Although their was some negative reaction when the unis were announced, the team is 1-0 in them.

In non-Islanders news, Nassau Coliseum will also soon play a roll in the COVID-19 vaccine effort in New York. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced Saturday night that the building will administer shots, joining Citi Field and Yankee Stadium.

Minus 

First is the worst

Only 27 seconds into Saturday’s game, Jacob Bryson notched his first NHL goal as he flung one to the net from the nearside wall through a screen. It looked as if Semyon Varlamov never saw the puck before careening off the far post and into the net.

Buffalo, which had been called out by its own GM Kevyn Adams after a poor effort Thursday, were on ideal footing to start the game and looked to have some extra pep on the forecheck.

It didn’t last but could’ve been worse for the Islanders.

Danger close 

Thanks in large part to the first period, Buffalo did control the majority of quality chances Saturday. Overall, it was a 16-14 share in high danger chances in favor of the visitors.

Buffalo did have an expected goals percentage of 48 percent, so the game was a little closer than the score might’ve indicated.