DETROIT — Bo Horvat scored the winning goal in Dallas on Monday night, but it was Matt Barzal who won the game.
This was a 49-second attack that included all three zones. Started two breaks, took the puck back to him twice along the wall, and eventually gave it to Horvat for a one-and-done shot, with the Islanders giving Dallas his 3-2. The match ended with a victory. .
“I jumped in and saw [Kyle Palmieri] I’m in trouble in a way. So he just gave me a little pass in the slot.I knew [Jamie] Ben was probably watching the puck a little bit.He quickly turned around and created a two-on-one with [Noah Dobson]. In fact, I was frustrated that I couldn’t do that,” Barzal told the Post after Wednesday’s practice, recalling a shift that took place almost 48 hours ago almost perfectly.
“The puck went behind me. I just stayed there. I knew there was a moment that would trigger me to go after the guy in overtime, because I felt like I was a good fit for him. I tried to run after him, and it was the younger kid. [Logan] Stankoven actually had a really good match. I just followed it. Understood. “
That play along the right wall in the Dallas zone was when Barzal’s individual efforts began to take on a different quality.
It’s only going to grow.
“[Esa] Lindell came towards me. Just kinda kept it to him. I knew this play was kind of dead. So I just disposed of it with Bo to calm things down,” Barzal continued. “Bo gave it to me. I knew Lindell had been there with me for a little while, so I challenged him one-on-one.
“Less. I really didn’t find anything. Cut back again. I just tried to buy some time. I showed up. I was so tired and literally couldn’t walk any more, so I didn’t actually shoot. And Beau just sat in the slot. It worked out.”
Even though Barzal used up most of his energy, he didn’t think about jumping off the ice when the puck came back into the defensive zone.
“I just caught my breath a little bit when I brought the puck home,” he said. “Obviously, there are moments where you have to step up. I felt like we were going to make the play and try to get the win. Bo took a great shot — he ripped the puck. It scored a goal. It’s a man’s goal. I knew Lindell was going to be there for a little while. I thought he was probably going to take his last breath there.”
The goals of the goal scorers, the plays of the playmakers.
“Birgie, Bo, Brock. [Nelson], these three guys are game changers,” coach Patrick Roy said. “And on top of that [play], he was a game changer. ”
