#Islanders’ stinginess has been huge playoff difference-maker

The Islanders were one of the tougher teams at five-on-five during the regular season.

They’ve taken that stinginess to a whole other level in the postseason.

Entering Monday’s second round against the Flyers, the Islanders had allowed just six five-on-five goals through nine postseason games. Their consistent play at even strength was a massive reason why they were able to handle the Panthers and Capitals without much trouble and extend their stay in Toronto.

“Obviously we’re a very structured team,” defenseman Andy Greene said Sunday on a Zoom call. “We rely on that and that’s our bread and butter. We have a game plan and we try to stick to it the best we can, and then we go from there. One guy makes a mistake, the other guy’s there to back you up, pick you up and go from there. Overall it’s just our team structure and identity is very solid. Going into the next series, it’s even got to be better and go from there.”

Both the Panthers and Capitals had some high-end offensive weapons at their disposal — and showed it at times on the power play, where they each scored more goals (four) than at five-on-five (three) — but the Islanders never let them get going at even strength. Instead, they largely dictated the pace of the game and spent long stretches in their offensive zone instead of being pinned back in their own end.

The structure that Greene spoke of is part of what the Islanders knew they were getting with Barry Trotz, but his players have bought in with strong results to back it up.

“Well, I just think we’ve consistently played the same way, made the consistent, right decisions in terms of our management and our decisions — when we’re really aggressive and when we have to back off and buy some time,” Trotz said. “I think we’ve done a really good job recognizing that and I think the guys not only understand situations really well, but they also are holding each other accountable a little bit in terms of, hey, a guy’s caught up, they recognize that right away. They’re communicating that and that’s helpful. There’s like an extra man when you’re communicating within the group, so they’re doing that.”

Part of the Islanders’ success can be attributed to Semyon Varlamov in net, as the veteran came up with big stops when needed in both series. But the Islanders also limited the amount of traffic in front of him. In five games against the Capitals, they allowed just 91 shots on net during five-on-five play.

They have built on the success they had at five-on-five during the regular season, when they allowed 133 goals in 68 games.

Almost all of the Islanders’ offensive firepower also came at five-on-five against the Caps, during a series in which their power play often wasn’t clicking.

“I think we just trust it,” Trotz said. “We know what works for us. I think we understand how you win in the playoffs. We’ve basically gotten through two rounds right now, from a mental and physical standpoint. It’s sort of ingrained in your DNA of what you need to do and how you have to play. So I think that’s a big part of our game, when we’re playing our five-on-five game. Our special teams are coming around, so that gives us a little bit of confidence I guess, but it’s a new venture and a new opponent.”