How Mat Barzal's Return Can Help More Than Just His Line & Islanders' Power Play

Anyone who watches hockey knows how dynamic of a player Mathew Barzal is. He has the skating ability that few players in the NHL possess, with his edge work making him incredibly difficult for opponents to keep up with.

Mix that in with his ever-changing mindset and he becomes a sure weapon for this New York Islanders team.

On the surface, his return helps in a few vital areas. 

For starters, since Barzal went down, Bo Horvat's production had dipped significantly. 

While the Vancouver Canucks former captain didn't just magically forget how to score, coming over with 34 goals, he was without a playmaker, scoring just seven goals in 30 games with New York. 

Yes, he did create scoring chances -- failing to bury those at the same rate -- but the drop-off from Barzal's ability to the likes of Simon Holmstrom is, well, a rather large one. 

At five-on-five, over their six-plus games together, the Islanders outscored their opponents 4-2 when this duo was on the ice, outshooting them 51-30, per NaturalStatrick.com. 

Another area where Barzal's return should help is the power play. 

Since the injury, the Islanders' power play operated at just 10.5 percent -- the worst in the league over the final 23 games -- with just six goals on 57 opportunities. 

The Islanders' power play finished third-worst in the NHL at 15.8 percent.

With Horvat and Barzal together, the power play scored five times on six goals on 19 opportunities--31.6 percent. 

Given how little space Carolina allows, along with how disciplined they are, if the Islanders do get the man advantage, they need it to be a threat. 

Over the last three practice days, along with the morning skate ahead of Game 1, Horvat and Barzal have answered numerous questions about their chemistry at five-on-five and the power play. 

But it comes down to playing in a game together, which they haven't done in two-and-a-half months. 

"I think just practicing with him, it's been great," Horvat said. "Trying to get used to each other again, and get our habits and the feel of each other out of the way, especially these last three days. Hopefully, we'll pick up where we left off."

Lambert was asked if there was anything he can do to help the chemistry.  

"I think you just let them do it. They've had enough communication between the two of them over the last few days and in practice. I think they've rekindled that and we'll see what happens."

THN did ask Horvat about the power play Monday.

"One job: Retrieve pucks and try to put the puck in the net," Horvat said. 

Barzal spoke on the power play the day he returned to the ice.

"That's where my game stems from almost, so I'm excited to get back out there. It's been tough watching just games in general, so the power play is where I like to have fun," Barzal said. "And that's definitely going to be big here in the series, special team. So going to have to be sharp."

But here's where Barzal's return doesn't get enough attention.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, like every coach, loves matchups. With Carolina being on home ice, they get the last change, which allows them to dictate those matchups.

Without Barzal returning, it was rather clear who the line of Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal-Jesper Fast would have their hands full with, that being the Islanders' hottest line: Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri.

Not to mention the defense pairing of Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burins as well, eating minutes against Nelson's line.

But with Barzal back in the mix, Carolina can't just worry about one line as the Islanders have two top lines, with Barzal as dangerous as anyone on every shift.

"They're considerably better, obviously," Hurricanes captain Staal said before Game 1. "He's an elite player, and he's got great speed and obviously can change the game in the moment. (His return) really doesn't change a ton in regards to how we play and how we approach the game."

"But awareness for him is definitely gonna be key, and taking away his time and space as much as you can are big keys for us as well."

Barzal's return, whether he takes the Canes' top defense pairing or their second, likely will allow for the Jean-Gabriel Pageau line a bit more leeway offensively. 

Lambert has shown great trust in Pageau's line to go against the opponent's best, as well as his fourth line.

The Hurricanes' bottom defense pairing of Shayne Gostisbehere and Jalen Chatfield doesn't have much playoff experience, with Ghost having three limited playoff runs under his belt, with Chatfield making his playoff debut. 

If Barzal's line does get the Brett Pesce-Brady Skjei defense pairing, which has actually been better than the Hurricanes' top pairing, maybe that creates more of an opportunity for the Nelson line. 

There's no question that Mathew Barzal needs to produce offensively if the Islanders' are going to have a shot of advancing past the first round, whether the production comes at five-on-five or on the power play.

But just him being ready to go from jump street changes how the Hurricanes prepare, possibly allowing other Islanders to benefit.