Islanders showing they’re no one-trick pony anymore

In the midst of the Islanders’ excellent stretch of play over the last 17 games, something has changed from the norm when you watch them play. It’s how they are winning. They’re gaining victories in a variety of ways.

Last night’s 2-1 win over the Bruins, their fourth against them this year and their sixth victory in a row, came in a shootout. Before that, it was three consecutive triumphs over the hapless Sabres, all coming by a 5-2 score but all in different ways.

“We like being in those games, those playoff type games and we’re comfortable there and that’s how it’s going to be down the stretch there,” d-man Ryan Pulock said last night in the postgame.

With all due respect to Pulock, the trend of his team’s string of success is showing that the Isles aren’t only the kind of team that needs to play tight, low scoring games anymore, though that’s usually how head coach Barry Trotz would prefer it and how it’s been the club’s MO for close to three years now. No, now they have a formidable attack that can strike at any minute and can outscore their opponent and dangerous special teams. That was evident in their three-game sweep of Buffalo. But that dynamic has also been elevated with the emergence of the third line as well, with J.G. Pageau and rookie Oliver Wahlstrom becoming a dangerous duo.

“My guy. He’s just awesome,” Wahlstrom said over a week ago in his praise of Pageau. “He’s a guy I really look up to and I love being around him.”

Defense and goaltending are still priority No. 1 for the Isles, but there’s a chance they could go very far this year by having a complete game in their arsenal. That’s what’s developed recently in their play and it’s got them riding high and feeling confident.

What once felt like a team that could only sustain winning by depending on one facet, now feels dangerous in all areas.

The Islanders are no longer a one-trick pony and that should have the rest of their opponents on notice the rest of the way.

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The Isles were finally successful in the skills competition last night. The game-winner from Anthony Beauvillier looked quite familiar to those who experience the club’s success in the shootouts for years.

Beauvillier did his best Frans Nielsen imitation as he went backhand roof job against ex-teammate Jaroslav Halak.

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Barry Trotz continues to break records while leading the Islanders to success. Yesterday marked his 1,700th game behind the bench. He joined Hall of Famer Scotty Browman and Panthers bench boss Joel Quenneville in the top-three all-time for games coached in the NHL.

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Lastly, someone needs to check on Sebastian Aho after Mathew Barzal’s hilarious treatment of him in warmups last night.