New York Islanders 3 Takeaways from 3-1 Home Loss to Calgary Flames

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New York Islanders how does the Austin Matthew's contract effect Barzal

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 02: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates against the Los Angeles Kings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on February 02, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Kings 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Lines Back To Normal

In the last game, the New York Islanders ran a second line of Leo Komarov, Tom Kuhnhackl, and Mathew Barzal. One of those is not like the other.

Coach Barry Trotz was trying to squeeze whatever he could out of his lineup after his second line couldn’t give him anything over the previous two nights. It worked about as well as you’d expect.

The line generated three shots on net, and Mat Barzal was held to a low 12:48 of ice-time in total.

But for some reason Barry Trotz decided to keep that lineup together at home against the Flames.

Thankfully, that lasted about five minutes.

Not long into the first period, Mat Barzal was playing alongside Bailey and Andrew Ladd. Now that doesn’t sound like an incredible upgrade, when but relatively speaking, its an upgrade for Barzal.

And it brings balance back to the Isles top six forward.

It was worth a shot for Barry Trotz to try Barzal next to other players. At best he’d try an elicit a reaction from all six players affected by the change. And maybe that manifests itself on the ice.

God knows that the New York Islanders who hold the second worst goals-for record in the Eastern Conference can use some offense.