Islanders vs. Oilers preview One player from every NHL team gets chosen to represent their franchise at the All-Star Game. It's not always an easy decision for the league, but more often than not, one player is a clear standout. However, the league will have its hands full in deciding which New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/new-york-islanders-montreal-canadiens-4-3-loss-comeback] player will head to Toronto for All-Star festivities. NOAH DOBSON Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/noah-dobson-new-york-islanders-11-points-11-games-defensive-play-1-on-1] has been a catalyst on both sides of the puck this season. Outside of elevating his defensive play and becoming a true top-pairing defender, Dobson's offensive production has been elite. In 30 games this season, averaging a career-high 25:33 minutes per game with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock on the mend, Dobson has recorded 32 points, with five goals and 27 assists. His 27 assists rank third in the NHL amongst defensemen, only trailing Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (29) and Vancouver Canucks blueliner Quinn Hughes (30). And there's no reason to think Dobson can't continue to perform better than a point-per-game pace because he's made it look incredibly easy in the offensive zone this season. The Islanders power play, which was a mess at just 15.8 percent a year ago, is now at 25.3 percent this season, with Dobson's improved quarterbacking skills being the main reason. Noah Dobson has yet to appear in an All-Star Game. MATHEW BARZAL Islanders forward Mathew Barzal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/mathew-barzal-new-york-islanders-brock-nelson-noah-dobson-lane-lambert] is back to being a point-per-game player for the first time since recording 85 points in 82 games his rookie season to win the Calder Trophy. He's actually been better than a point-per-game, with 32 points in 29 games this season, having recorded 10 goals and 22 assists. Barzal's performing like the player the Islanders expected and needed after a few years of average numbers. Each game, the 26-year-old shows he is an elite playmaker in the NHL. But he's now added elite confidence in his shot, a shot that's also proving to be elite. With 91 shots on goal in 29 games, Barzal is on pace for 254 shots, which would shatter his career-high of 197, which he set in 2018-19. His projected 28 goals would surpass his career-high by six, as he scored 22 goals during his rookie season. Barzal represented the Islanders at the 2019 and 2020 NHL All-Star Game. BO HORVAT With just seven goals in 30 games, everyone knew that Bo Horvat [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/bo-horvat-new-york-islanders-vancouver-canucks-trade-lamoriello] wasn't at his best when he came over to the Islanders from Vancouver last season. Despite being without Barzal due to injury, Horvat knew that he had opportunities to score and just failed to do so. So, the question became. Could Horvat find that scoring touch he showcased in Vancouver? Narrator voice: "Horvat did, in fact, find that scoring touch." The Horvat train is operating at full speed as the 28-year-old is also averaging over a point per game like Barzal, with 30 points in 29 contests. He has 12 goals and 18 assists this season and is currently on a career-high 10-game point streak with seven goals and nine assists. Horvat represented the Canucks at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. He also represented the Islanders at the 2023 NHL All-Star Game after being acquired by New York during the All-Star break. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After the NHL chooses a player from each team, fans can vote in another 12 players to complete the rosters. Could we see all three of these Islanders punch their ticket to Toronto?
