Before a puck had been dropped on the 2018-19 NHL season the New York Islanders were written off. We all remember the headlines and we all remember the justifications.
We all saw the same thing. With the losses and additions to the playing staff, there was no way the New York Islanders could be better than they were the previous year. Yet, 48 games into the seasons the Islanders are ten points up on where they were last season.
Much of that success is thanks to a vastly improved defense. At this time last season the Islanders had allowed 179 goals against, today (January 23rd) their goals against is the lowest in the NHL at 122.