FanPost

Where they sucked (and didn't) - How the Islanders stacked up in 2013-14

"I think we're sorta mediocre." "Some of us are." - Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sport

A lot of mainstream hockey journalists are lazy. They remember seeing a bad stat like 80 kajillion goals against and assume the defense must have sucked. Other lazy 'journalists' and bloggers parrot this. Average (and below average) fans read it and assume it to be gospel.

Here is a somewhat definitive look at how the Islanders in 2013 stacked up in some key metrics.

Even Strength Shots per 60 Minutes

Top 5

Ottawa 35.05
San Jose 34.42
Chicago 34.34
NY Rangers 33.71
Los Angeles 33.05

Islanders 10 - 31.82 NHL Average - 30.87

Bottom 5

New Jersey 28.05
Edmonton 27.60
Calgary 27.50
Buffalo 27.14
Minnesota 27.10

The Islanders were a top 10 team in terms of generating offense at even strength. The addition of more depth at forward should help maintain this.

Even Strength Goals per 60 Minutes

Top 5

Anaheim 2.88
Chicago 2.75
Boston 2.61
Colorado 2.52
San Jose 2.48


Islanders 18 - 2.17
NHL Average - 2.24

Bottom 5

Carolina 2.03
Calgary 2.02
Edmonton 1.95
New Jersey 1.90
Buffalo 1.48


While they did a good job of getting shots on net, they were just below average of getting those shots past the goaltender.

Power Play Shots per 60 Minutes

Top 5

San Jose 64.33
Pittsburgh 63.08
Washington 62.96
Vancouver 58.33
Boston 57.58


Islanders 16 - 52.54
NHL Average 52.29

Bottom 5

Buffalo 46.80
Calgary 45.91
New Jersey 44.94
Florida 44.59
Tampa Bay 43.47

Power Play Goals per 60 Minutes

Top 5

Washington 8.92
Pittsburgh 8.51
Boston 8.13
Phoenix 7.32
Philadelphia 7.20


Islanders 13 - 6.44
NHL Average 6.25

Bottom 5

Vancouver 5.15
Carolina 5.13
Buffalo 4.90
Los Angeles 4.77
Florida 3.25


All in all, the Islanders were an NHL Average club when it came to offensive production. Lots of room to improve, but not the weakest link in the chain.

Even Strength Shots Against per 60 Minutes

Top 5

New Jersey 25.83
Los Angeles 26.50
St. Louis 27.17
Chicago 27.40
Minnesota 28.20


NHL Average 30.87
Islanders 19 - 31.32
Bottom 5

Washington 33.65
Edmonton 33.74
Buffalo 35.03
Ottawa 36.10
Toronto 37.12


The Islanders need to improve on their shots against. One could argue the removal of top flight defense generator Andrew MacDonald was a huge step in that direction.

Goals Against per 60 Minutes

Top 5

Los Angeles 1.60
Boston 1.71
Minnesota 1.78
St. Louis 1.95
NY Rangers 1.95


NHL Average 2.24

Bottom 5

Nashville 2.57
Ottawa 2.59
NY Islanders 2.61
Florida 2.66
Edmonton 2.75


And here's where it gets ugly. Goaltending at even strength was a glaring weakness.

Penalty Kill Shots Allowed per 60 Minutes

Top 5

Vancouver 42.55
Philadelphia 43.37
San Jose 44.11
St. Louis 44.12
New Jersey 44.92


Islanders 10 - 49.88
NHL Average 52.59
Bottom 5

Colorado 59.05
Toronto 59.81
Buffalo 60.51
Florida 61.47
Washington 64.82


When it came to killing penalties, the Islanders were among the better teams in the league in limiting the opponents' chances. Of course, when they did shoot the puck, bad things happened...

Penalty Kill Goals Allowed per 60 Minutes

Top 5

New Jersey 4.27
Montreal 4.85
St. Louis 4.98
NY Rangers 5.13
Pittsburgh 5.22


NHL Average 6.25

Bottom 5

Minnesota 7.22
Toronto 7.63
Phoenix 7.75
NY Islanders 8.01
Florida 8.82


That's ugly. It doesn't matter how well you suppress shots (unless you eliminate them all) when your goaltenders allow them in at that rate.
It all started and ended for the Islanders with horrid goaltending behind a slightly below average defense and average offense.






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