Islanders glaring problems cant be ignored despite strong underlying stats

BUFFALO — If you are in the optimism-pedaling business, then the Islanders’ advanced stats are a good place to ply your trade. Amid scoring woes that have equated to four shutouts in 10 games and a 3-5-2 record entering Friday night’s match against the Sabres, the Islanders have offered the sort of clichés that every team going through a scoring drought tends to toss out: They are getting their chances, they are suffering bad luck and good opposing goaltending, they just need one to go in and the dam could break. That ignores a number of key factors.But advanced numbers — at least at five-on-five — are largely in alignment with that view. The Islanders are top five in the league in expected goals percentage, with a 54.37 percent share, per Natural Stat Trick.

They are outshooting their opposition, with a 52.92 percent shot share and getting a 53.74 percent shot attempt share — good possession numbers.They are getting 52.05 percent of high-danger chances, as well. That is not just about good defense, either — the Islanders are seventh in expected goals for and middle-of-the-pack in high-danger chances for.

Those are generally not the numbers of a struggling team. “I thought we deserved better than that,” Patrick Roy said after Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Columbus.“At the end of the day, we just did not find the back of the net, but I love how hard our guys are working.

We’re going to the net, bringing pucks to the net, bounces just not going our way.How many times did [Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins] look behind him tonight? They were great chances and we couldn’t finish.”  Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

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