By Brian Bohl
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Ted Nolan didn’t hesitate to answer when asked about his team’s scoring struggles following a loss to Boston on Monday.
“What’s wrong with our offense? A lot,” the Islanders coach said.
Over the past three weeks, Nolan has done more reshuffling than a Las Vegas poker dealer. He’s moved Bill Guerin up and down the lineup and back up again, finally placing him on the Opening Day top unit with Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedotenko before Wednesday night’s game against Atlanta.
“We looked at where we’ve had some success,” Nolan said. “Billy Guerin, Fedotenko and Comrie was our best line. They’re put in a position where they have to play well so put them all together, and they can be accountable to one another. Sillinger’s line, we’ve looked at the success it’s had the last couple years, so we put those guys together.”
Consider the Islanders enter that contest with an NHL-low 57 goals through 25 games, the next step might have to be asking Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier to leave their front office positions and return to the ice. Outside of a trade for a top-notch scorer that likely won’t happen, the ongoing four-game road trip could determine the outcomes of the Islanders season.
With 27 points, the Isles are one point ahead of Pittsburgh for last place but just five points behind the Rangers for the top spot in the packed Atlantic Division. To stay in contention and avoid a prolonged losing streak, Guerin will need to start living up to his resume.
The 15-year veteran has scored 369 goals in his career, but the four-time 30-goal scorer is on pace to tally just 16, which would be his lowest production since 1994-95. To spark his team, Guerin needs to make an impact on the score sheet. The team captain hasn’t had a single point (goal or assist) since Nov. 1, a span of 14 games.
Outside of a hat trick against Washington earlier in the season, Guerin’s scoring struggles have embodied his teammates’ struggles. His five goals on 74 shots gives him a paltry .068 shooting percentage, which needs to improve to ignite the offense. A road trip that features games against the Thrashers, Lightning, Panthers and Sabres could be the perfect remedy for a team that started to press at home.
“These are the times where you have to go on the road and bond again,” Guerin said. “With the start we had, teams are ready for us. We’re not going to surprise anybody. [But] there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
It’s not just Guerin who can’t catch a break. The Islanders haven’t scored more than two goals in regulation or overtime in a single game since a win over the Rangers on Nov. 6. Nolan, sensing a need to change things, moved Andy Hilbert back with assistant captain Mike Sillinger and Trent Hunter.
A sputtering power play continues to exasperate the scoring drought by the regular lines. Before Chris Campoli’s late goal in a loss to the Bruins Monday night, the Isles scored just four goals in the previous 54 opportunities with the man advantage. Capitalizing on opposing penalties can be the key to restoring team-wide confidence, as well as helping to improve a sub.500 road record.
“Sometimes it’s good to get on the road,” Nolan said. “Guys go to meals together, get to talk and chitchat and get to know each other a little bit better. I just think it’s good to get on the road. There’s no [distractions]. We just play.”