Barzal believes the NY Islanders are mentally prepared for the intense final stretch

With 24 games left on the schedule, New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal knows there’s no room for drift. The push for a playoff spot won’t just be about talent — it will be about mindset.

“This stretch with 24 games is so mental — just being prepared every single night and wanting to win a little bit more than the other team,” Barzal said. For the slanders, the margin is thin, and the standings are tight. Consistency, he believes, will separate contenders from pretenders.

“We’re a hungry group,” he added. “We definitely want to be playing playoff hockey and find a way into the playoffs.”

That hunger must show up nightly. There can’t be lapses, especially against teams chasing the same goal. “We can’t take a second for granted,” Barzal said — a reminder that urgency has to be sustained, not summoned only when it’s convenient.

A major factor in that push will be special teams. The Islanders’ power play has shown flashes but will need to convert when it matters most. “Coming down the stretch, there are going to be important power plays where we need to find a way to get on the board or create momentum,” Barzal said.

He doesn’t believe the solution is complicated. “There’s enough talent on the ice to make something work. We just have to make it happen.”

For Barzal, the formula is clear: mental sharpness, nightly desperation, and capitalizing on key opportunities. The final 24 won’t be about overthinking or reinventing systems. It will be about execution and resolve.

If the Islanders embrace that mentality, prepared, hungry, and ready to cash in when chances come, they’ll give themselves the best chance to be playing meaningful hockey when April arrives.