Isles fans seem to completely ignore that with average goaltending we'd be in the bottom 5-10 in the league. Putting on blinders and ignoring process in favor of results don't work in the playoffs. The Islanders are not balanced. Of the 23 games thus far this season, the Isles have been the better team 5 on 5 in about 8-10 games. Their best games were against the Avalanche and the Canes. Overall, there are alarming trends with this team. This team is no longer that good 5v5 so far.
Your point that some teams look good, mediocre, etc is not correct. The great teams look great more than they look mediocre or bad. This Isles team, while winning, has not been good 5 on 5. This is not debatable. You'd be singing a very different tune if we weren't lucky enough to have elite goaltending.
I've been an Islander fan for decades now. Isles fans typically love to put their blinders on especially when the team has a good record. We are not winning in a sustainable fashion. The team isn't very good. The goaltending pushes them to above average, because of how elite its been. To ignore this is being dishonest with yourself. If you want to talk about balance, the Isles defense has been atrocious 5v5. They are at a league worse 58 xGF. You can absolutely make the case for Sorokin being the MVP this season if the Isles continue to play this way and somehow make the playoffs and make noise.
This team is not as good as its record.
You can add Pageau to the list. Horrible albatross contracts on this team.
I am going to try to keep this short and simple, you can't ignore or discount elite goaltending because it is a facet of the team AND that is what the Isles allocated cap space to establish. They paid up for an elite goalie in Sorokin and a high-end goalie in Varlamov.
They are built from the net out, it isn't luck. Stop saying they are lucky to be getting elite goaltending. They would be unlucky to NOT be getting elite goaltending.
Their defense is still coming together with two new, full-time players AND they are all learning a new system. The goaltending is allowing them to compete while other pieces come together. I am willing to give the defense time to iron out the mistakes and refine the process.
The Isles also have talent and diverse skill down the middle in Barzal, Nelson, JGP and Cizikas. They have defined roles and all bring different abilities to the ice.
The fancy stats have been wrong now for what, three out of four years? There is still plenty of time for deficiencies to be worked out and/or for a couple reinforcements to be brought on board, be it externally or a callup from Bridgeport, who as an AHL team is playing very well and getting significant growth from the younger players.
Like Bill Parcells said, you are what your record says you are. If my uncle had boobs, he would be my aunt. But feel free to take it to Twitter if you would rather look good and lose, as opposed to looking "bad" and winning.