The Islanders wiped the slate clean on their power play entering the playoffs.
It was one of the big concerns entering their first-round series against the Penguins, the fact that they had the third-worst power play in the NHL at 14.5 percent and finished the regular season having converted just three of their previous 50 power-play attempts.
But in the Islanders' Game 1 overtime win against the Penguins on Wednesday, it took all of 25 seconds for the Islanders to score on their first power-play chance of the playoffs, Brock Nelson burying a Jordan Eberle feed in front to put the Isles up 2-1 late in the first period.
"We get one early on the first one and then generate some chances. You're not going to score every time on the power play but you want to create momentum and we did that tonight," Eberle said after the win. "So if we can continue, that's going to be a huge upside in the playoffs."
The Isles finished 1-for-2 on power plays in Game 1. Nelson's goal was the first shot of that man-advantage, and the Islanders recorded four shots on goal on their second power play in the second period. The top unit of Nelson, Eberle, captain Anders Lee, Josh Bailey and Devon Toews looked strong.
If the Islanders can generate chances on the power play like they did in Game 1 and leave their dreadful regular-season man-advantage behind, it could be a huge difference-maker throughout the series and the entire playoffs.