The Skinny: Game 30 - Buffalo 3, Isles 2 (OT)

Game 30Buffalo 3, Isles 2 (OT)
Rasmus Ristolainen scored 42 seconds into overtime as the Buffalo Sabres extended the Isles' winless streak to four games with a 3-2 win over the Islanders before a crowd of 18,903 at KeyBank Center.
Matt Moulson had tied the game for Buffalo early in the third period; Kyle Okposo, playing his first game against his former mates set up Ristolainen for the overtime winner.
Ryan Strome, who snapped a 20-game scoreless streak on Thursday night, scored for the second time in two nights.

The Scoring:
1ST PERIOD
13:08 New York Ryan Strome (4) ASST: Cal Clutterbuck (9), Nikolay Kulemin (5) 1-0
2ND PERIOD
02:32 Buffalo Johan Larsson (5) ASST: Rasmus Ristolainen (19), Jake McCabe (6) 1-1
06:39 New York PPG - Alan Quine (2) ASST: Shane Prince (6) 2-1
3RD PERIOD
03:19 Buffalo PPG - Matt Moulson (8) ASST: Evander Kane (5), Brian Gionta (6) 2-2
OT PERIOD
00:42 Buffalo Rasmus Ristolainen (2) ASST: Kyle Okposo (13) 2-3
The Skinny:
The Isles scored the first goal for the 10th time in the last 11 games … Ryan Strome has scored in consecutive games for the first time since March 29 - - April 2, 2015…Alan Quine recorded his third career goal; he now has one even-strength, one shorthanded and one power play goal in his career… Shane Prince played his first NHL game in Western New York. The Rochester native assisted on Quine's goal… The Isles have been outscored 8-0 in the third period of the last four games…After allowing only 2 power play goals in a 12-game span, the Isles have allowed 7 power play goals in 13 times short over the past four games…The Sabres moved within 5 points of Ottawa and Boston in the Atlantic Division; they hold one game-in-hand on Ottawa and three on Boston…Rasmus Ristolainen extended his assist streak and point streak to five games (2-7-9)…The Isles are 7-0-2 when leading after two periods…Nine of the last 10 meetings between these teams in Buffalo have been decided by a single goal…Sabre coach Dan Bylsma won his 299th NHL game.
Countdown to 500
John Tavares was held scoreless. He still needs six points to become the 10th player in Islander history with 500 career points.
Last Minute Heroes
The Isles have scored twice in the final minute of regulation to either tie or win a game:
Fit to Be Tied
The Isles have allowed the final goal of regulation in seven of their eight games that have gone to overtime this season, including three in the final minute:
Late Losses
The Isles have been tied in the third period in nine of their 13 regulation losses (and 15 of their 19 overall losses) but have allowed the lead goal in the final 3 minutes of regulation five times:
Home Til the Holidays
The Isles are in a stretch where they will play 10 out of 14 at home. By the time the Isles host the Capitals on December 27th, the Isles will have played 22 of their first 34 games at home.
The Isles are 4-2-1 at home and 1-1-1 on the road during this stretch. The Isles do not play consecutive road games again until after Christmas.
The Shots
Isles 16-14-4-1=35
Buffalo 7-16-12-2=37
The Isles are 6-3-2 when they outshoot their opponents and 1-2-0 when the shots are even but are 4-9-3 when they are outshot.
Home and Road
The Islanders are 11-13-6 overall; 9-6-4 at home and 2-7-2 on the road.
Buffalo is 12-11-6 overall; 7-6-3 at home and 5-5-3 on the road.
By Division & Conference
The Isles are 3-5-2 in Division games and 8-8-4 in games versus other divisions (1-4-3 vs. Atlantic, 2-1-0 vs. Central and 5-3-1 vs. Pacific). The Isles are 4-9-5 against the East and 7-4-1 against the West.
Last season the Isles went 18-8-4 in Division games and 27-19-6 in games against other divisions. The Isles went 19-7-2 against the Western Conference, including 12-0-2 at home.
In the Nets
JF Berube made 34 saves in his first start of the season and 7th start of his career (3-2-2). He is 0-0-1 in his career against Buffalo.
Robin Lehner made 33 saves to improve to 7-9-4 on the season and 3-1-2 against the Isles in his career.
Power Plays
The Islanders were 1-1 on the power play, while Buffalo was 1-3.
The Isles are 3-4-4 when they score at least one power play goal and 8-9-2 when they do not. The Isles are 3-8-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 8-5-2 when they do not.
Three is a Magic Number
The Isles are 10-2-2 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 1-11-4 when they do not. The Isles were 37-4-2 when they scored at least three goals (including SO winners) last season.
One Goal Games
The Isles are 5-5-6 in games decided by a single goal including 2-5-0 in regulation. They are 2-4 in games decided in overtime and are 1-2 in shootouts. The Isles are 1-0 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1 goal game into a 2-goal game.
First Goal
The Isles are 7-4-4 when they score first and are 4-9-2 when they allow the opening goal.
Second to The One
Jack Capuano, the 2nd winningest coach in Islander history, is 221-189-61 behind the Islander bench. Among the 9 New York area teams, only the Yankees' Joe Girardi has led his team longer than Capuano.
Most games coached (Islanders):
Most wins by Islander coaches:
1. Al Arbour 740 2. Jack Capuano 221 3. Terry Simpson 81 4. Peter Laviolette 77 5. Ted Nolan 74
Capuano is tied-72nd in NHL history with Ted Nolan with 471 games coached, and one behind Bob Gainey. His 221 wins places him tied-64th all-time with behind Bob McCammon, and eight behind Robbie Ftorek.
Back-to-Backs
Including tonight, the Isles are 2-3-0 on the front-end of back-to-backs and 2-2-1 on the back-end. Last season, the Isles went 5-5-5 on the front-end and 9-3-3 on the back end of back-to-backs.
The Isles will play 16 sets of back-to-backs this season. This was the final back-to-back set in 2016; the Isles will open 2017 facing Colorado on January 6th and Arizona on January 7th.
Tired vs. Rested
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Nick Leddy (24:38); Buffalo: Rasmus Ristolainen (26:56)
Isles record by ice-time leaders: Travis Hamonic (4-0-0), Nick Leddy (5-9-4), John Tavares (1-1-0), Johnny Boychuk (1-3-1), Dennis Seidenberg (0-0-1)
John Tavares led the Isles forwards with 21:03 of ice-time. Isles record by Forward ice-time leaders: John Tavares (6-9-4), Josh Bailey (3-2-2), Casey Cizikas (1-0-0), Cal Clutterbuck (0-1-0), Brock Nelson (1-1-0)
Face-offs
Isles 27, Buffalo 40 (40%).
John Tavares won 15 of 28 for the Isles but his teammates won only 12 of 39; Ryan O'Reilly won 16 of 23 for Buffalo.
The Isles won only 4 of 22 face-offs in the first period but won 23 of 45 the rest of the way.
The Isles won 24 of 58 draws at even strength, 0 of 2 on the power play and 3 of 7 on the penalty kill.
Hit Count
Isles 20, Buffalo 22. Four Isles each had three shots; Marcus Foligno had five for Buffalo.
Fights
There were no fights. Season total - 5: (deHaan 1, Hamonic 3, Mayfield 1).
The Isles were involved in 23 fights last season.
Blocked Shots
The Isles were credited with 14 blocked shots, including four from Calvin deHaan. deHaan leads the NHL with 86 blocked shots.
For the Corsi Crowd
All situations: Isles 53, Buffalo 62
5-on-5 Isles 48, Buffalo 43
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: John Tavares +14; John Tavares 69%
Buffalo: Cody Franson +14
Ironmen
Jason Chimera - 135 (including 105 for the Capitals); Josh Bailey 98
Scratches
Thomas Greiss, Casey Cizikas (injury)
Injured Reserve: Adam Pelech
Total games lost: 51
Missing a Piece (or two)
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Isles are 19-18-4 in games in which they are missing Johnny Boychuk, Travis Hamonic or Nick Leddy, including 3-1-1 this season.
All-time Islander Leader Boards
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1123 \\* 2. Denis Potvin 1060 \\* 3. Bob Nystrom 900
13. Kenny Jonsson 597 \\* 14. Garry Howatt 596 \\* 15. John Tonelli 594\\* 16. Josh Bailey 587\\\ 17. Ken Morrow 550 \\\ 18. Duane Sutter 547 \\* 19. Lorne Henning 543 \\* 20. John Tavares 540
Goals
1.Mike Bossy 573 \\* 2. Bryan Trottier 500 \\* 3. Denis Potvin 310
…
7. Bob Bourne 238 \\* 8. Bob Nystrom 235 \\\\9. John Tavares 216
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 \\* 2. Denis Potvin 742 \\* 3. Mike Bossy 553
10. Derek King 288 \\* 11. Pat LaFontaine 279 \\* 12. Bob Nystrom and John Tavares 278
19. Ed Westfall 181 \\* 20. Kenny Jonsson 175 \\* 21. Duane Sutter & Alexi Yashin 171 \\* 23. Josh Bailey 169
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1353 \\* 2. Mike Bossy 1126 \\* 3. Denis Potvin 1052
9. Bobby Nystrom 513 \\* 10. Derek King 499 \\* 11. John Tavares 494
21. Duane Sutter 292 \\* 22. Alexei Yashin 290 \\* 23. Ed Westfall 286 \\* 24 Josh Bailey 267
Season Series Stats
Buffalo leads the season series one game to none (and two points to one). The teams will meet in Brooklyn next Friday (December 23) and then play again on April 2nd in Buffalo.
The Isles extended their point streak in Buffalo to seven games (4-0-3).
On The Farm
Bridgeport allowed three goals in a 2:04 span of the third period and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Providence Bruins on Friday night. The Sound Tigers fall to 16-10-0-0 on the season. Ben Holmstrom and Tanner Fritz scored for Bridgeport.
Bracken Kearns continues to lead Bridgeport in scoring (8-12-20), while Steve Bernier leads the team in goals with nine. Toews leads the team with 15 assists and is second on the team in points (4-15-10); fellow rookie Eamon McAdam remains perfect in goal in 7 decisions (7-0-0)
Toews is tied for the AHL rookie lead with those 15 assists, and is tied for the AHL rookie defenseman lead with 19 points.
The Sound Tigers return home to face Syracuse on Saturday.
Up Next
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18th-OTTAWA AT ISLANDERS- 7:00PM
[MSG+ (Isles pre-game at 6:30), WFAN 660/101.9FM, 88.7 WRHU-FM, 103.9 WRCN]
The Isles return home for Ugly T-Shirt Night and they face Ottawa for the first time this season.
The Isles went 2-0-1 against the Sens last season and are 6-2-1 over the last three seasons against Ottawa.