Mathew Barzal expects a lot from the Islanders’ new front line
Buffalo Mathew Barzal mentioned the Lightning three of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Steven Stamkos as a standard that he, Bo Horvat, and Brock Nelson may aim to meet while discussing the Islanders’ still-developing top line on Thursday morning.
Before the Sabres blew up the Islanders 4-0, Barzal stated, “That line is hard, hard to play against.” “They’ve always caused us problems when we play them.”
Barzal swiftly brought up the fact that Roy’s substitution of a different forward group caused the Islanders to go on a six-game winning run. Barzal was tired of being negatively spun in an interview that drifted into where his line might go better.
His line’s results in comparison to the previously stated Tampa trio are also impressive, if the record did not already make it clear that any gains are about refining a product that is already functioning rather than making it go.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Point, Kucherov, and Stamkos combined for over 301:57 at five-on-five this season. The percentages for 50.88 shots, 44.74 goals, 48.61 anticipated goals, and 47.41 high-danger chance are all given.
Nelson, Horvat, and Barzal combined for a score of 55.08 shots, 69.23 goals, 53.2 anticipated goals, and 54.55 high-danger chance % in a game lasting 111:27.
The Islanders’ situation was not helped by what transpired later that evening, as the Lightning trio defeated the Rangers despite not playing as a line, scoring a combined five goals and dishing out six assists. Meanwhile, the top line of the Islanders vanished along with the rest of the offense in a second straight shutout loss.
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