Islanders Game Notes: Fun in Philly

For some hockey fans, nothing beats a close, tightly-contested win for their hockey team. The nerves, excitement and suspense of a 2-1 game that goes down to the wire, or that gets decided in overtime, that’s what hockey is all about, these fans might say.

That’s all well and good, but you know what I like more than anything? Blowouts. Beatdowns. Routs. Drubbings. Dominant wins, like the Islanders winning 6-1 in Philly or 7-2 in LA. Games where they score a lot of goals and the other team doesn’t. One more example would be the Islanders beating the Rangers 7-2 back in January which, as I highlighted at the time, they were able to do by scoring seven goals and only conceding two. These are the most enjoyable games to me.

So in honor of the fun weekend that was, I say we keep it going today and have some more fun. Below, let’s take a look at each of the six goals the Islanders scored against the Flyers on Saturday afternoon. I’ll comment briefly on each before including a poll for you to cast your vote.

So which Islanders goal was your favorite?

Islanders Goal #1: Komarov (Pelech, Ladd)

The dynamic duo are at it again for the very first time. Leo Komarov gets things started with a nice deflection off an Adam Pelech shot.

What a pass, what a finish. Love these two guys.

Islanders Goal #2: Beauvillier (Eberle, Barzal)

This is likely the favorite. It might not have been the most beautiful goal the Islanders scored in this game, but it was a beauty nonetheless, with all three forwards touching the puck in quick succession. I know I wasn’t the only Islanders fan grinning from ear-to-ear after seeing Anthony Beauvillier score his first goal of the season in the very first period of the very first game in which he was reunited with Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle.

Butchie put it perfectly during the broadcast: “Is that a welcome sight for everybody that cheers for the New York Islanders?” No doubt about it, Howie.

Islanders Goal #3: Nelson (Bailey, Lee)

Brock Nelson scores his first goal of the game on a really nice pass from Josh Bailey on the 2-on-1. With the back-checker coming in fast, that was a pretty tight passing lane through which Bailey slithered the puck.

This was the second straight goal in which all three Islanders forwards factored into the scoring. I really like when that happens, as I think it helps to not just illustrate chemistry between linemates, but to develop that chemistry further. It’s also positive reinforcement for the players and the coach.

Butchie actually claimed that all five Islanders touched the puck here but that’s not really true. Hickey made a good defensive play to pry the puck loose to Mayfield, but he didn’t really “pass” the puck to him. Still a really nice job by Bailey to thread the needle to Brock for the gimme.

Islanders Goal #4: Pelech (Lee)

Pelech had it going on this afternoon. Look at this wicked wrist shot here; you simply cannot teach a shot like that. I mean sure, I guess you can, but it felt right to say that. And if loving Adam Pelech’s wrist shot on this play is wrong, then lemme tell you something: I don’t wanna be right.

In all seriousness, this was probably the biggest goal of the game. It put the Isles back up by three goals and seemed to deflate the home crowd and home team alike. Nice shot by the Cobra.

Islanders Goal #5: Nelson (Lee)

Brock Nelson’s second of the game is an absolute beauty. He showed great patience with the puck, pulling a sweet toe-drag move, waiting for Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim to slide himself out of the play (with a stupendously stupid dive) before roofing it top shelf.

Just a beautiful goal by a player who looks to be on top of his two-way game right now.

Islanders Goal #6: Lee (Bailey, Barzal)

Question: of all the goals Anders Lee has scored on his career, has he ever scored a goal quite like this one?

I don’t think he has. A few months ago, I made a video of all 40 goals Lee scored last season and none of them were quite like this PP beauty against Philly. I don’t ever recall him scoring a goal like this as far as (a) the distance he skated with the puck before shooting, and (b) the distance from the net from which he shot the puck.

It certainly appears as though Lee’s all-around game is improving. Though I never thought of him as solely a one-trick pony, I’m seeing a noticeable improvement in his passing and a few really nice puck-handling displays as well. On this day, he capped off the scoring with a gorgeous individual effort.

The Islanders had some fun in Philly on Saturday afternoon and scored several beauties. So go ahead and cast your vote for your favorite goal of the day.

Until next time.