Two games in, the Islanders have already shown both sides of the same coin.
On one night, they barely generated anything in a season-opening loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, even while putting together a strong defensive effort. On another, they ripped through the New Jersey Devils for six goals and rode Ilya Sorokin to a shutout that felt well earned, with the whole group cashing in on mistakes.
That split is starting to tell a bigger story: the Islanders may be getting a handle on Peter DeBoer’s system.
DeBoer has built his reputation as a defense-first coach, but not in the usual suffocating way. His teams tend to win through structure, discipline and a clear plan, and that appears to be taking hold on Long Island. Through two games, the Islanders have allowed just two goals, which is a strong early sign and one that should hold up as the season unfolds.
The harder part is going to be offense. Keeping the puck out of their net should remain a strength, but finding enough goals to sustain that success will be the real test, especially with the rival New York Rangers waiting at MSG on Tuesday night.
The Rangers have opened better than expected, which makes that matchup even more revealing. It should give a clearer picture of how much of DeBoer’s system the Islanders have truly absorbed.
So far, the Islanders have looked like two different teams. One played a tight, low-event game. The other looked like an offensive juggernaut that very few saw coming.
The problem is that the six-goal version is the outlier. As exciting as a 6-0 night might be, it’s not something a team can count on every game. Scoring will cool off at some point, just as it did against Toronto and again on Tuesday night against the Rangers.
When that happens, DeBoer’s structure is supposed to carry the load. The Islanders do not need multiple 100-point scorers to make this work. If they keep goals against down, they’ll give themselves a chance in most games.
And that’s where Sorokin comes in. He does not have to steal games every night, but simply being Sorokin can swing a few outcomes. His presence alone can be the difference in games the Islanders might otherwise let slip away.
In Other News...
Islanders Already Face A Romanov Concern They Couldn't Afford
Alexander Romanovs night ended early Tuesday against the Rangers, and for an Islanders team already trying to steady its blue line, that is the kind of development it could not have welcomed. Romanov exited with an apparent injury and was not back on the ice for the final stretch of the game, leaving New York to finish without one of its more important defensemen.
Pete DeBoer said Romanov is still being evaluated, which leaves the Islanders in wait-and-see mode for now. If the injury lingers, it would add another layer of difficulty to a defensive group that can ill afford to lose a regular presence for any length of time. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders' Rangers Loss Exposed A Problem Fans Were Dreading
Semyon Varlamovs return was one of the few encouraging developments in a rough night for the Islanders, even if it came in a loss to the Rangers that underscored how much work still remains. The veteran goalie was back in the crease after knee surgeries, stepping into a charged rivalry game and facing a steady Rangers attack that kept New York under pressure from the opening shift.
Alexis Lafrenire led the way for the Rangers with a big night, while Oliver Bjorkstrand added two goals and Mika Zibanejad piled up three assists as the visitors pulled away and stretched their winning streak to four. For the Islanders, the result was less about the score line than the reminder that simply getting Varlamov back is only one piece of a much larger problem they still have to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Suddenly Have A Blue Line Concern After Rivalry Loss
The Islanders left their rivalry loss with more than just a setback in the standings, because two regulars came out banged up and the blue line suddenly looks a little thinner. Simon Holmstrom was forced out after taking a hit to the face, and while the concern is a broken nose, the early expectation is that he will keep playing and stay in his third-line role.
Alexander Romanovs exit is the more pressing issue for the back end. The defenseman left with a leg injury, and coach Pete DeBoer did not offer a postgame update, leaving the Islanders to sort through what it could mean for the defensive rotation if Romanov needs time. [Read more 🡒]