Faceoff success a priority as Isles hit the road
Photo credit: Newsday/Patrick E. McCarthy | A pre-season game between the Islanders and Devils. Islanders' John Tavares on face-off. (September 23, 2009)
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Nov. 7: Islanders 6, Thrashers 3
It's the little things that may be big for the Islanders on the seven-game road trip that starts Wednesday night against the Capitals in Washington.
There are plenty of big factors. Like the Islanders scoring only one goal in their last two road games, or how Freddy Meyer and Jack Hillen will adjust to more minutes on defense in an intense stretch of four games in six nights, followed by three in four nights a few days later.
But within each game, things like faceoff wins play a big part. The Islanders had the better of the play in Buffalo a week ago but lost, 3-0, partly because they won just 8 of 47 (17 percent) faceoffs, including 3 of 22 in their own zone.
"It's one of those things that doesn't get talked about much but it's important," John Tavares said after a short practice at IceWorks.
Because the visiting center has to put his stick on the ice first, the home center gets an advantage. He can cheat a little too, timing his stick sweep with the linesman dropping the puck instead of getting set.
"You have to be focused, know who you're going up against and try to just outsmart the other guy a little," Tavares said.
The Islanders are tied for 10th in the league in faceoff percentage, winning 51.3 percent of their draws. Of course, you have to do something with the puck after you win a faceoff, and the Islanders' six-goal outburst in Saturday's win over the Thrashers may have helped relax some nerves before the trip begins.
"It was definitely good for our confidence," Mark Streit said. "You always play a little differently on the road, try to play well defensively first and get off to a good start. But Saturday was maybe our best offensive game of the season and that helps."
The Islanders may be helped more by the impending return of Trent Hunter (torn pectoral), who practiced fully for a second straight day. Scott Gordon said Hunter would be a game-time decision Wednesday night against the Alex Ovechkin-less Caps, whom the Islanders beat in D.C. on Oct. 30 for their only road win of the season (1-4-3).
"I'm not going to complain," Gordon said of facing the Caps (10-3-4) without their star, "but it doesn't mean we can take them any lighter. The goal on this trip is to not use the road as an excuse to not play well."
Notes & quotes: Rick DiPietro worked for a second straight day before the team's practice and came through well, according to Gordon. The rehabbing goaltender's next hurdle comes next week, when he's scheduled to do consecutive days of on-ice work twice, with one day off in between.
