Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders celebrates his power-play goal against the Penguins with Josh Bailey at the Nassau Coliseum on February 27, 2021. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
The highlights of an NHL scoresheet are the goals and assists, with the nuances of strong defensive play largely unrepresented. Yet it’s the overall package that coaches evaluate.
So, ask the Islanders’ Barry Trotz about the offensive consistency he needs from second-line stalwarts Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey and he’ll immediately mention how that trio – regardless of who’s on left wing – is getting the toughest defensive matchups.