Islanders Barzal’s Passion & Persistence Leads To OT Winner

Mathew Barzal puts on a show in overtime before setting up Bo Horvat for the overtime dagger against the Dallas Stars. Here's what he had to say following the 3-2 win.

Mathew Barzal and the New York Islanders knew how huge two points against the Dallas Stars was when they entered American Airlines Center Monday night.

Deadlocked at 2-2 entering the overtime frame, Barzal, alongside Bo Horvat and Ryan Pulock, started the extra frame. 

Despite not finding the back of the net on their first shift in overtime, Barzal made the most of his second shift, a 49-second skate that ended in the game-winning goal.

Gassed beyond belief, with a chance to change, Barzal found himself 1-on-1 with Stars defenseman Esa Lindell. 

Doing what he usually does, he protected the puck and created more time and space before finding Horvat cutting in for the one-time finish and a 3-2 win over the Stars:

But what this highlight doesn't show is the entire shift for Barzal, where his will and competition were tested to the absolute max.

Before the overtime winner, Barzal got on a rush with Noah Dobson, but his pass across the ice got intercepted.

Barzal then made a heck of a play along the boards to win the puck back before grinding to hold onto the puck and find Horvat at the point. 

After Horvat brought the puck back into the Islanders' zone, Barzal got a quick breath before picking up the puck, dropping it to Mike Reilly, and opening up for a chance off the rush.

Then, the clip above began. 

Here's a full video of that shift:

"I knew Lindell had been on the ice for a little bit," Barzal said postgame to Shannon Hogan and Butch Goring of MSGSN. "I tried to attack him a little bit. He's smart, smooth and at first, I had Dobson on a 2-on-1. I know he wanted it. I wanted to get that over to him.

"But then just that instant of being in a desperate hockey game, having a 50/50 puck there in overtime, down in the corner, and I wanted to win that battle. And the rest was Bo doing a great job at finding that little hole, that open space, and a great period by him. He's had a lot of chances lately and that was a huge win for him tonight and for our team."