Pass first Mathew Barzal credits NY Islanders teammates after hitting milestone

Mathew Barzal reached a major milestone Thursday night, but true to form, the New York Islanders star made sure the spotlight didn’t stay on him for long.

With his assist on Anthony Duclair’s third-period goal in a 1-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Barzal became the 14th player in Islanders history to record 500 career assists, passing Derek King on the franchise list. It was a moment years in the making — and one Barzal was quick to frame as a collective achievement rather than an individual one.

“I’m more so a passer my entire career,” Barzal said. “A lot of credit to my teammates for putting the puck in the back of the net. It takes a lot of people, including my family and everybody, to get to a milestone like tonight.”

The assist itself was a perfect snapshot of Barzal’s career. On the Islanders’ lone power play of the night, Barzal calmly distributed the puck to Cal Ritchie, who delivered a no-look backhand pass into the slot. Anthony Duclair did the rest, snapping the puck past Connor Ingram for the game’s only goal and sealing one of the Islanders’ most impressive road wins of the season.

It was a highlight-reel sequence built on trust, chemistry, and timing — all hallmarks of Barzal’s game since he entered the league. While his speed and creativity often draw the headlines, Barzal’s greatest value may be how he elevates the players around him, consistently putting teammates in positions to succeed.

Now, as he climbs one franchise list, another milestone waits just ahead. Barzal is currently tied with Mariusz Czerkawski at 145 career goals, good for 19th in Islanders history. That next step, fittingly, will have to come off his own stick.

If his career to date is any indication, Barzal won’t rush it — and when it happens, he’ll probably be the first to credit everyone else for helping him get there.