NY Islanders Star of the Week: Barzal gets in the goal column twice

Throughout the week of Nov. 13, the Islanders played three games. Their first game of the week came in Ottawa on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. The Islanders would go on to win this game four to two and improve their record. Unfortunately, their next two games would not go as well as they would lose against the Predators in Nashville and the Stars in Dallas.

However, one thing remained constant throughout all three games, Mat Barzal continues to be the team's top player. Barzal quickly got in the point column in Monday's game against Ottawa as he found Oliver Wahlstrom for a powerplay goal. This goal would give the Islanders the lead, 1-0.

""The puck movement has been really good," Wahlstrom said. "Obviously the top unit has been ripping it around and Nelson's been hot too, so it's good to see and it gives us confidence too when the power play is going." "

- Oliver Wahlstrom on the powerplay unit

Barzal wasn't done on the day, as he would also find teammate JG Pageau for another powerplay goal. This time to extend the Islanders' lead, 3-1. Barzal would finish the game against the Senators with two assists, while still looking for his first goal of the season.

Unfortunately, the game against the Nashville Predators wouldn't be as good. Barzal, however, did continue to make his presence felt as he found Pageau again for a powerplay goal late in the third period to bring the Islanders within a goal of the Predators. This would be the Islanders' final goal of the night as they went on to lose the game, 5-4.

Arguably, Barzal's best game of the week came in the Islanders' worst. On Saturday, the Islanders traveled to Dallas to take on one of the western conference's top teams, the Dallas Stars. Barzal would finally get in the goal column, not once, but twice. Had it not been for Barzal, the Islanders would have gotten shut out.

""I wasn't bothered for a second," Barzal said. "It's literally just about making an impact and helping the team win.""

- Mat Barzal on scoring his first goal

Barzal's first goal would come early on in the second period, assisted by Alexander Romanov and Wahlstrom. He gave the Islanders the lead, 1-0, and looked to spark the Islanders' offense. However, Dallas was quickly able to answer to tie the game up, 1-1. Barzal's next goal came later on in the second period when he picked up a powerplay goal, assisted by Brock Nelson and Anders Lee.

While this past week has been one that many Islanders fans would like to forget, nobody can argue that Mat Barzal still had an excellent week for the team. Barzal would finish the week in total with two goals, and three assists, picking up a point in each of the three games the Islanders played in.