This series was waiting for Mathew Barzal to step into the proceedings after three games in which the Islanders superstar produced just one point.
Consider that this is done after a Game 4 in which Barzal scored two goals, including the winner in double overtime, changed the arc of the game and drove the game all night on a top line that saw its best match so far.
“It’s tight there. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a series where the body checking is this close on both sides, really,” Barzal said after the Islanders’ 3-2 win over the Hurricanes pushed the series back at least a few days moreover. “Every shift there, our D, everyone, the checks, it’s on another level right now.”
Double victory for the Islanders 3-2 in overtime against the Capitals in game 4. Michelle Farsi/New York Post
Barzal, who operates best in space, said he didn’t actively approach things differently in Game 4. But, thinking out loud, he said maybe being down 3-0 created a different approach in itself.
“You can almost play a little more freely because the overall standings are 3-0 down,” he said.
This was evident with Barzal’s first goal when he took a shot after entering the area and cutting along the right wall.
This cutback is something Barzal does multiple times per game. Shooting for discounts is something he almost never does.
“We were on him for that,” Anders Lee said.
That goal, 10:10 into the second period, tied the game at 1-1 and opened the scoring for the Islanders, who had produced almost nothing in the first 30 minutes.
“I think he was attacking,” Lee said. “He can control the puck as well as anyone in this league, but when he takes it to the net, whether he goes around it or brings the puck back, he takes it to another level. I love seeing him rewarded for this, but also give him a chance by putting some on the net tonight.
It’s the kind of adjustment — simply shooting the puck instead of playing for the perfect pass — that the Islanders wanted Barzal to make forever.
It happened on Saturday, just in time.
Matt Martin was out with a lower body injury and called daily.
Ruslan Iskhakov made the lineup, playing 5:58 in his first playoff game and second NHL game as Roy went to the young Russian against Simon Holmstrom. or Oliver Wahlstrom.
“He did well,” Roy said. “It wasn’t easy to arrive like that. For the little bit he played, he gave us what we thought he was going to do and I was very happy with what I saw.
New York Post
