The New York Islanders’ offense as of late has hit a wall. In particular, their captain, Anders Lee, has been one of the biggest culprits.
In the last three games, Lee has recorded a ridiculous 20 shot attempts, and somehow, none of them have been able to find the back of the net. The Isles as a whole only have one goal in their last 180 minutes of play.
“It’s been tough for us lately to find goals,†Lee said after Monday’s loss in Arizona.
“We got that one from [Beauvillier] and couldn’t get the second one. We had chances over and over and we’ve just got to find a way to put it in.â€
Lee’s struggles couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Islanders, who are clawing tooth and nail for positioning in the extremely tight Metropolitan Division. Heading into the final matchup of their four-game Western road swing tonight, the Isles find themselves in the final wild-card spot in the Metro.
The team being in that spot only makes it more crucial for Lee to snap out of this funk he’s been in.
Frankly, Lee needs to find that next level and fast. His season has been mired with inconsistent play despite 17 goals and 33 points through 58 games. He’s of the main drivers on offense for head coach Barry Trotz behind Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle, as well as the team’s primary goal-scoring threat. Plus g.m. Lou Lamoriello also paid him quite nicely in the offseason — $49 million to be exact — for moments like the one facing the team now.
As a captain, this is the time of year where your leaders are your best players. The Islanders need Anders Lee to be that guy starting now and down the stretch.