But watching that game seemed a pattern.
I do not see these problems as fixable, and it's why teams like Montreal and many others when they are on their game, take over in third period when points are on the table, and why the Islanders are allowing so many shots every game which is more a fact now then a trend which we saw in Dec 2015.
Sure this team has some goal scorers, and work hard which keeps them in practically every game, and many nights we see them beat teams not at their best, struggling to put two passes together which slows them down or have shaky goaltending, but an easy night is extremely rare for this team.
Physically they have never been a big team in that department, and the Matt Martin inflated hit totals read well but did not tell the story of the games they did win because they created chances based on hitting which also seem down but asking a Jason Chimera (despite the two goals) to change positions and score when as a left wing his production was spotty is also another very heavy lift.
The answer long-term is more speed, Beauvillier, Prince, Strome, get the other team on the defensive/running around in their end, even if not on Tavares line who's doing great with Lee (who they should let skate more and not just plant himself in front of goal like Mark Parrish), but has a RW with five goals (one ot/one powerplay) despite playing his best hockey on pace for over 50 points.
This plan went bust fast under Brad Shaw, and Ted Nolan sent Nilsson away from day one of 2006 camp forever, but for a few games in late 2005-06 Jeff Tambellini & Robert Nilsson were flying around Alexei Yashin as their wingers, and had teams backing up.
That's the kind of balance these lines need in the speed department to push back and take over games in third periods.