The Islanders top line has been leading the way offensively but the focus is on shoring things up defensively.
BUFFALO, NY -- Since Patrick Roy placed Brock Nelson alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, the New York Islanders have had a lethal top line.
In seven games as a line, with New York going 6-1-0, all three have produced, combining for nine goals of the club's 23 goals at 5-on-5 play over that span.
Nelson has two goals and six assists, Horvat has four goals and three assists, and Barzal has three goals and two assists.
According to MoneyPuck.com, when that line has been on the ice, New York has outscored its opponents 9-4. Per NaturalStatrick.com, when that threesome has been on the ice at 5-on-5, 89:07, the Islanders have outshot their opponents 59-42 and have out-chanced them 47-32.
It's a unique trio, as all three players are natural centers.
Like anything, building chemistry takes time.
"It's getting better. There's still things we got to continue to keep getting better at but for the most part, we've been playing pretty well," Horvat said on Thursday morning. "They're tough games coming down the stretch here and we got to be at our best in order to win.
"I think there's definitely things that we have to work on, but at the same time, we got to keep producing and doing little things right."
One area that all three players have touched on has been their play in the defensive zone. It seems like, at least once per game, their line has been hemmed in their own zone for most of their shift, and they know that they need to improve in that area.
"Sometimes, in the defensive zone, we just need to sort it out a little bit better," Horvat said. "If we play well on that end, the rest is going to take care of itself with just the amount of skill that I have on the wings with Brock and Barzy.
"So we take care of that, the rest will take care of itself."
When it was just Horvat and Barzal, the former Vancouver Canucks captain was the one, usually playing deeper in the Islanders zone, while the team's All-Star was higher up in case a fast break chance developed.
Now, with Nelson on the line, adjustments have had to be made.
"Those are reads that you have to make, right?" Horvat said. "We all know what it's like to play down low and how to do that. It's just a matter of recognizing who's going to be that low that shift and going from there."
It helps that while they're learning and adjusting, they're getting those much-needed offensive results.
"It's been great. I mean, we obviously are producing and getting our legs and getting our chances," Horvat said. "So, it's definitely been helping the team that way, and we got to keep that going here down the stretch, guys."
Barzal has been discussing the need to be better defensively since his first week with Horvat and Nelson.
"Bo probably said it perfectly. There were definitely times last game when we could have been a little better in the defensive zone," Barzal said. "We take pride in leading the way. We do have to better in our defensive zone, be a line that scores goals, but also keeps them out of the net. So, that's what we're looking to do.
"I don't necessarily think there's been one game yet -- maybe the San Jose game -- where there's just been like domination. I feel there's still been a little bit of growing. I don't think any of us have played on a line with three centerman. I gotta do a better job of respecting Nelson and Bo when they have the puck and being that guy that gets to the net. I gotta get to the net a little more for them and let them play the give-and-go game down low and vice versa."
Barzal knows how effective a true top line can be.
"The objective of it is to have a line that's powerful. I mentioned Tampa Bay before with Point, Kucherov, and Stamkos. Like that is a line that's hard to play against. When we played them, they've always caused problems for us."
Roy loves that his top players aren't satisfied.
"I think they mentioned to you guys they wanted to play better defensively. And I love to hear that," Roy said. "I mean, they're playing against top lines, and the less you're giving, the better it is, and the less time you spend in your zone, the more time you have in the offensive zone.
"I love the fact that they want to get better, and they want to continue to grow as a group of three."
After an off day for the top line and the Islanders in Los Angeles this past Monday, a 3-0 defeat, the threesome and the rest of the squad look to get back in the win column Thursday night against a surging Buffalo Sabres team.