Difference Between Varlamov & Sorokin ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/new-york-islanders-defeat-carolina-hurricanes-3-2-in-overtime-barzal-nets-winner-game-five-tuesday] staved off elimination on Saturday afternoon, well evening, after winning Game 4 in double-overtime. It was the definition of a true team win for Patrick Roy's squad. Here are the three reasons why the Islanders lived to fight another day. BARZAL & LINEMATES STEPPED UP Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MDU3NTExNjI5ODkxNTU4/hiicyz3epvwx28ltmw5m.webp] After the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the Islanders in six last postseason, one of the questions was how they may have faired had Mathew Barzal been healthy. The face of the franchise had missed the entire second half of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, returning for Game 1 of the playoffs, but wasn't at his best. "Last year, I was coming off the injury," Barzal said. "I didn’t have a ton of skates before the playoffs, and I just felt rusty. It [stinks] having to shake off rust in the playoffs. So, it’s nice coming in and feeling good.” This time, the Islanders had a healthy Barzal alongside Bo Horvat, and if the Islanders were going to make any noise, those two would have to lead the charge. However, through three games, Barzal and Horvat each had just one point, with Barzal finding Horvat for a one-time finish in Game 2. Besides that, their line struggled mightily, especially to create chances off the rush. Then came Game 4. With the Islanders down 1-0, it was Mathew Barzal who looked like the All-Star he was during the season, cutting back to create a lane, with his wrist shot beating Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen through a Casey Cizikas screen: “I just tried to use my speed on the outside, turned up and I really didn’t see anything,” Barzal said. “Their defensemen played really well. I didn’t have much space. It was a great screen by (Casey) Cizikas. He slid in front of Andersen’s eyes there, and I just tried to put the puck on net. You never know.” Then, at 1:08 into the second overtime, Horvat worked his tail off down low before the puck came shooting out to Robert Bortuzzo, who had just made his way into the offensive zone after a line change. Barzal, who has been going to the net more, was in the right place at the right time, deflecting home the game-winner: "Great forecheck by Bo (Horvat). That's kind of just how it's been," Barzal said. "When we can get the puck stopped down there and get the forecheck going and slow the play down a little bit down there, we have some success. It was a great shot by Bortuzzo, trying to find the lane and throw it in an area where there's some bodies. It's a lucky bounce." In addition to notching two secondary assists on each of Barzal's goals, Horvat won 15 of 23 face-offs (65%). FACE-OFF SUCCESS Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MDU3NTU5Njc5ODM4MTgy/hrrzntuh5ju9e3khkk9x.webp] While on the subject, the Islanders dominated in the face-off circle, which played a vital role in their success. When the game was over, New York had won 48 of 74 face-offs, 68 percent. After two periods of play, the Islanders had won 24 of the first 28 draws (85.7%), 15 of 23 (65%) in the first overtime, and all three face-offs in the second overtime. Pageau was a monster in the circle, winning 19 of 23 draws (83%). Here's how the rest played out: The Islanders won 64 percent of their offensive-zone face-offs, which was crucial in garnering immediate offensive-zone time. They also won 71 percent of their defensive-zone draws, which allowed for more clean zone exits. TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ANDERSEN Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MDU3NTQyMjMxNTMzNTQy/usatsi_23129525.jpg] During their Friday off day, the Islanders talked about how they had to get more bodies in front of Andersen if they wanted to have more success. Andersen hadn't been outstanding in the series thus far, but he was making the big saves he had to make when called upon. The reason that he was able to make those big-time stops, like diving to stone Noah Dobson in two games and Alexander Romanov in Game 3, was because he always had the ability to track the puck. On Saturday, the Islanders swarmed the front of the net. All three goals came from traffic. Pageau's power-play goal, which gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 1:38 of the second, came due to traffic in front: As you saw, Barzal's goals both came due to bodies in front: first Cizikas, then Barzal. "We did a much better job today than we probably did in Game 3," Roy said about getting to the net. "That was a nice team effort. It's nice to see Barzal driving the net and then coming back and cutting back and coming up on top. But if there's no one in front of the net, that shot does not go in. "You need traffic. You need guys to sacrifice their bodies for the cause of the team, and that's what we had today." If the Islanders can copy and paste this game onto PNC ice on Tuesday night, they'll give themselves a strong chance at forcing a Game 6. TOP STORIES
