The New York Islanders finally found some offensive rhythm against the Los Angeles Kings, and Brayden Schenn and Victor Eklund were right in the middle of it.
New York had been searching for steady production for stretches this season, and the absence of key pieces has been a big part of that. Mathew Barzal has not played yet this season, Matias Maccelli missed eight games after getting hurt on Oct. 17 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Calum Ritchie also went down with an injury. With three top-six caliber forwards unavailable, the Islanders have needed others to pick up the slack.
Schenn and Eklund have done exactly that while working together on the second line, with Schenn now handling the No. 2 center role. Their connection showed again in the Islanders’ 5-2 win over the Kings, a result that ended a four-game winless streak.
“You know, as a line, we just try and keep it simple,” Schenn said, via Tyler Brosious of NHL.com. “We forecheck. You know, try and create turnovers and try and play connected and close with one another.”
Schenn opened the scoring for New York 5:50 into the first period, burying his sixth goal of the season off assists from Mitchell Chaffee and Ryan Pulock, who was back in the lineup after missing multiple games with an upper-body injury.
He stayed involved throughout the night. Schenn picked up the secondary assist on Matthew Schaefer’s power-play goal, then set up Eklund early in the second period for another Islanders strike.
That gave Schenn his first three-point game since March 28 against the Florida Panthers and the 31st of his career. He has now collected a point in four straight games, and a big reason for that run has been his chemistry with Eklund.
The rookie winger has seven goals this season, and six of them have come with an assist from Schenn. That production has pushed Eklund to the top among Eastern Conference rookies in goals, while he is tied for second in the NHL overall with Trevor Connelly of the Vegas Golden Knights, trailing only Roman Kantserov of the Chicago Blackhawks, who has nine.
“Ekky [Eklund] seems to be finding the back of the net right now,” Schenn said.
Eklund’s current run has also put him in rare company in Islanders history. He has scored in four straight games, making him the 11th rookie in franchise history to do it and only the third in the last 20 years. The others were Michael Grabner, who had a six-game streak and a four-game streak in 2010-11, and Kyle Opkoso, who had two four-game streaks in 2008-09.
Even with underlying numbers that don’t jump off the page - their Corsi and Fenwick percentages are both under 50 - Schenn and Eklund have been crushing opponents on the scoreboard. When they’ve been on the ice together, the Islanders have outscored opponents 11-2, an 84.62% edge, while the pair has generated 41 high-danger chances and scored eight times.
In Other News...
Islanders Could Hand Mat Barzal The Finisher Hes Been Missing
Matvei Michkovs situation in Philadelphia has become one of the more intriguing side stories in the early part of the season, and it has naturally drawn the attention of teams looking for a high-end offensive jolt. The Flyers rocky start and the uncertainty around the 2023 seventh overall pick have only added to the noise, with Michkov now being viewed as a possible trade candidate if the relationship continues to fray.
For the Islanders, the appeal is obvious. A player with Michkovs skill set would give Mat Barzal a dynamic finisher and add a layer of creativity this roster has often lacked, especially in the kind of game where one clean chance can swing everything. Nothing is official yet, and there is still a long way between speculation and an actual move, but it is the sort of idea that fits the Islanders need for more punch up front. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Get Needed Help Back As Bigger Problems Still Loom
The Islanders were set to get a little healthier against the Kings, with Matias Maccelli and defenseman Ryan Pulock both scheduled to return to the lineup and Mathew Barzal expected back soon after. For a team that has been grinding through a rough stretch, the timing matters. Those reinforcements should at least give the Islanders more options, more speed and a steadier look on the blue line as they try to stop the slide.
Health alone, though, will not solve everything. The Islanders still have bigger issues hanging over them, from defensive breakdowns to a power play that has not consistently done enough to swing games in their favor. The returns of Maccelli and Pulock offer a chance to reset some of that, but the real question is whether the group can turn those additions into the kind of cleaner, more complete hockey it has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Finally Have A Chance To Steady Their Playoff Push
The Islanders finally got a needed break in the skid by beating the Kings, a result that offered a little relief after a stretch defined by injuries and uneven play. With Ilya Sorokin and Ryan Pulock back in the lineup, there is at least a clearer sense of what this group can look like when it is closer to whole, and that matters for a team trying to turn a frustrating start into something more sustainable.
Mathieu Darche now has a roster that is healthier than it has been in recent weeks, which opens the door to a more honest evaluation of where the Islanders stand in the playoff race. The bigger question is whether this win becomes the start of a steadier run or just another brief pause in a season that has too often swung from promise to concern, with the front office still weighing what comes next. [Read more 🡒]