To say the first half of the season was a disappointment for Matthew Barzal would be an understatement.
This comes after he missed six weeks with an injury and is coming off his best season in years, but he hasn't produced results when healthy, struggled before the injury, and has made a full recovery since returning. It took me a while to see it.
But these days, Barzal looks more and more like his usual self. And nowhere was that more evident than on Saturday, when the Islanders beat Utah 2-1 on the game-winning goal for their first multi-point game of the season.
“Birgie did a great job for us,” coach Patrick Roy said. “He made a great assist and scored in the first game.” [second] One, he was around the internet. He cut in front of the net, so that's what we need from him and he's a leader on this team. He came tonight. ”
Since returning from an upper-body injury on Dec. 15, Barzal has expressed dissatisfaction with his play multiple times, saying, “I'm not feeling good yet.”
Entering the third period on Saturday, his batting line failed to score in the first 40 minutes and created numerous chances, but he once again showed his anger.
Not so much after a cathartic celebration punctuated the Islanders' comeback.
“I think he's hard on himself,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “He's been one of our best players, or our best player every night since he's been back. His work ethic is outstanding. When you see him with the puck, he's the best player with the puck. Even if he doesn't, he wants to fight for that puck. He's competing when he misses it. [time]I think we're all aware of that.
It's true that Barzal is sometimes his own biggest critic, but that's not without reason.
He knows how important he is to the Islanders.
He knows that if he can't turn his season around, he won't be able to make it to the upcoming playoffs.
He knows this past season hasn't been good enough, injury or not.
However, there is still time to turn things around.
And if Saturday is any indication, that may be exactly what's happening.
“It felt great because we're competing for a playoff spot,” Barzal said. “The boys tried too hard. [Saturday] That you can't win. That was very meaningful. ”
Saturday marked the first time all season that the Islanders won a game by fewer than three points.
Marcus Hogberg also became the first third-string netminder to win a game for the Islanders since Corey Schneider in April 2022.
The Islanders did not practice Sunday after returning from Utah.
