Barzal: Collision could’ve been ‘ugly’
ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was just a scrape on the right side of Mat Barzal’s neck instead of something that could have been a whole lot worse.
The Islanders top center had a scary collision during the team’s 3-2 overtime win over the Wild on Sunday night when his breakaway chance early in the third period resulted in him hurtling through the air, over goalie Alex Stalock, and into the left post.
The organization held its breath as the reigning Calder Trophy winner was slow to get up. But he did, and the 21-year-old was fine.
“The hockey gods were watching me there,” Barzal said. “It could have been ugly.”
Integral center Casey Cizikas missed his second straight game with a lower-body strain, which is coupled with an overall feeling that he’s worn down following the long grind of the season and a recent stomach bug. His absence broke up his heralded line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck for the 25th time this season, and without them together, the team is now 13-11-1. That makes the club 29-12-6 when the trio is intact.
“I think what Casey does, he’s sort of the drive-train on that line,” coach Barry Trotz said. “He brings us a different energy and he’s productive. You miss him in the middle.”
The Islanders broke their 11-game drought without a power-play goal, a spell that reached 0-for-25 when they failed to score on their first chance Sunday before Anders Lee redirected a Devon Toews shot at 16:12 of the second period for a 2-1 lead.
“I don’t know if any of us know if there’s a streak or not of us not scoring,” Toews said. “It’s just about creating momentum, and we feel like we’ve been doing that the last couple games.”
Defenseman Johnny Boychuk took warm-ups but was out for the fourth straight game, going back to when he took a shot to the head from the Flyers Jakub Voracek on March 9.