Mathew Barzal's massive impact to NY Islanders line combinations is undeniable

Last season was anything but ordinary for New York Islanders star winger Mathew Barzal, who was limited to just 30 games due to two significant injuries. Barzal’s season was first derailed on October 30th in Columbus after an awkward collision led to a wrist injury. He missed 21 games before making his return in Chicago, where he logged 20:45 of ice time and went an impressive 80% on faceoffs, despite the team’s 5-3 loss. Unfortunately, after 19 more games, Barzal suffered another injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Despite the limited action, Barzal’s impact was undeniable. He finished the 2024–2025 campaign with 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points and a +10 rating. He averaged 20:21 of ice time, recorded 4 power-play points, and posted a 42.3% faceoff win rate. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Barzal remains one of the most dynamic and skilled forwards in the league, known for his elite skating—particularly his edge work—which fuels his ability to control possession and generate offense. His advanced metrics reflect his impact on driving play and tilting the ice in the Islanders’ favor.

Advanced Line Combination Analysis

According to Dobber Sports’ Frozen Tools, Barzal skated in 10 different line combinations last season. Only one of those lines was outscored, underscoring just how effective he is at elevating play across different setups. Here are his top four most productive combinations:

Line combo 1: Lee-Horvat-Barzal

• Outscored opponents 7-0
• 106:59 TOI
• Shots for-61
• Shots against-46
• Chances For-149
• Chances against- 119

Line combo 2: Lee-Pageau-Barzal

• Outscored opponents 7-3
• 99:25 TOI
• Shots for-64
• Shots against-35
• Chances for-138
• Chances Against-69

Line combo 3: Lee-Nelson-Barzal

• Outscored opponents 8-2
• 63:43 TOI
• Shots for-40
• Shots against-29
• Chances for-86
• Chances against-62

Line combo 4: Duclair-Horvat-Barzal

• Outscored opponents 3-2
• 61:35 TOI
• Shots for-30
• Shots against-28
• Chances for-66
• Chances against- 56

A healthy Mathew Barzal is a game-changer—his ability to carry the puck, create chances off the rush, and elevate his linemates cannot be overstated. Barzal skated in 10 different line combinations this past season, and only one line was outscoring Barzal’s line. These numbers prove that with Barzal in the lineup, the Islanders are a much better team, where they can outshoot and out-chance the opposition with him on the ice. His return could be the difference between a fringe playoff team and a legitimate contender.