Plus/Minus: Giving Credit to the Islanders

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

More Coverage: Monday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: The New York Islanders

It's still very early in the season, obviously, but after their 4-1 win in Boston on Monday night, the New York Islanders find themselves as the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference. Seriously. I don't care if its November 17 or not, this is a team that entered the season with zero expectations. They may not always be pretty, and they may be benefiting from the NHL's point system that rewards teams for losing in overtime or a shootout (the Islanders have lost three games in overtime, and four in a shootout), but they're at least competing and have been in just about every game they've played (nine of their losses have been by just one goal).

On an individual level, Matt Moulson has to be one of the biggest out-of-nowhere surprises in the NHL this season, and he continued his impressive start by scoring two goals on Monday. He was also a plus-two and finished with three shots on goal, and was originally credited with a third goal -- which would have been the first hat trick of his career -- before it was awarded to No. 1 overall pick John Tavares.

Moulson, a former ninth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins, now leads the Islanders with 10 goals and is second (trailing only Tavares) with 18 points.

Elsewhere for New York on Monday, veteran forward Richard Park recorded three assists, while goaltender Dwayne Roloson stopped 28 of 29 shots to pick up the win.

Minus Of The Day: Jason LaBarbera, Phoenix Coyotes

Coyotes goaltender Jason LaBarbera wasn't asked to do all that much on Monday, facing only 19 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite the relatively light workload, he still surrendered four goals (including at least one that could be classified as being on the "soft" side) in a 4-1 loss.

After a fast 9-4 start out of the gate, Phoenix has now lost five of its last seven games. Also a minus, from the AP: "The announced crowd was 9,503, ending a three-game streak of five-figure attendance."

Highlight Of The Day: The New Jersey Devils finally lost their first road game of the season, dropping a 3-2 decision in Philadelphia. The loss not only ended their nine-game road winning streak, it also snapped an eight-game winning streak overall. Flyers rookie James van Riemsdyk scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 10:38 mark of the third period when he pounced on a loose puck in the slot and ripped it past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.