The Islanders’ defense was essentially a defense in name only in 2017-18 because, let’s face it, the team didn’t do much stopping of the puck.
The 293 goals the Islanders yielded were the most by any team since 2006-07. Their penalty kill operated at a 73.2 percent success rate, the lowest by any team since 1988-89. And there were six games when the Islanders allowed at least 50 shots. Opponents fired at least 40 shots on goal 20 times during the season.
The Islanders allowed five or more goals in regulation an astonishing 20 times, including three straight games from Dec.