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New York Islanders Opening Weekend: By the numbers

Yay for the power play, boo for the penalty kill, and three cheers for the league leaders

Left uncounted: The number of tailgates, folding chairs, and special home brews on Saturday.
Left uncounted: The number of tailgates, folding chairs, and special home brews on Saturday.
Bruce Bennett

The New York Islanders got the job done last weekend with a regulation sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes. It's one of those "Yes, but" scenarios, as you can only take so much credit for beating a team that is expected to be weak even before losing Jordan Staal, Jeff Skinner and (by late in the second game) Eric Staal.

Here are some random numbers to put the weekend in various contexts.

7 - The amount by which Johnny Boychuk already leads all Islanders in minutes played, with 47:06 total. The next closes is Thomas Hickey, who has logged 40:23. Boychuk was second in total power play time (to Kyle Okposo) and third in total shorthanded time (to Casey Cizikas and Brian Strait).

2 - Goalies used, each earning a win.

3 - Goals against in both games, which is uncomfortably familiar.

4 - The number of points ahead of the Isles where Carolina finished last season.

52.9 - Team Fenwick through a whopping two games.

55.6 - The success rate for the penalty kill, which has killed only five of nine situations. Regression will save you!

50.0 - The success rate of the power play, also unsustainable, but a pleasant and ultimately essential part of the weekend sweep.

57.7 - Frans Nielsen's faceoff percentage after 26 draws. Casey Cizikas (52.9%) led the team with 32 draws. Kyle Okposo has the highest success rate (58.3%) but took only 12 draws. Young Jedi Brock Nelson is at 40% after 22 draws.

1 - Brock Nelson's rank among the league's scoring leaders, with 6 points (tied with some other guy). Add to that, three Islanders tied for the lead in assists: