Barzal, Top Line Powering Islanders’ Turnaround

Mathew Barzal is really finding his game as of late.

New York Islanders Mathew Barzal had his moment on Saturday night in Utah.

With the score deadlocked at 1-1 with time winding down in the third period, the 27-year-old hopped on a loose puck in the high slot and ripped one into the back of the net to give his team a 2-1 lead with 1:25 to play in the third:

"I just saw a big scramble," Barzal said postgame. "Saw Leesy and Nelly battling for the puck, just doing everything they can. It was kind of a muck, so I was just fortunate to be on top and have one squirt out.

While Barzal played hero for Long Island, he also recorded the secondary assist on Brock Nelson's tying goal at 3:36 of the third, finding Lee quickly at the top of the left dot before Lee found No. 29:

That assist extended Barzal's point streak to five straight games (five assists), with the goal giving him his first multi-point game of the season. 

When Barzal's line was on the ice against Utah, the Islanders outshot their opponents 11-2, out-chancing them 10-1, and ultimately, where it mattered most, outscored them 2-0.

"The line of Nelly played really well, and Barzy came through for us," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "I mean, he got a great assist on the first one. For that last one, he was around the net. He cut in front of the net. So these are things that we need, and he's a leader on this team. And tonight, he came through."

All this line has done since Roy put them together ahead of their game against the Bruins is wreak havoc against the opposition. 

That line has been on the ice through these three games for 39:25, and has outshot opponents 28-12, outscoring them 7-1, per NaturalStatrick.com. 

To put this in perspective, the Islanders have scored 11 goals over the last three games. 

Against Boston, the Islanders outshot the Bruins 12-6 when the top line was on the ice, outchancing them 15-8 and outscoring them 3-1 in a 5-4 overtime win. Then, in Vegas, a 4-0 win, they outshot the Golden Knights 5-4, out-chanced them 7-5, and outscored them 3-1.

Barzal has six points (one goal, five assists) over his last five games. Nelson has four points (two goals, two assists) over his last two games.

Lee has five points (three goals, two assists) over his last three games.   

Given the climate of the Eastern Conference Wild-Card race, the Islanders were desperate to close out their road trip with another win. 

Barzal and Co. helped the Islanders come back in the third period for the first time this season on the road (0-6-0 previously) and for just the third time this season (1-11-1). 

Now, they return home with a seven-game homestand awaiting them. 

"Every day is a new day," Barzal said. "We're in such a tight race that we can't get too high or too low. We just got to ride this win streak and just ride this quality of play that we're bringing every night."

The Islanders battle the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at 7:30 PM.