Mathew Barzal’s hat trick leads New York Islanders to 8-4 against Capitals

With 20 games to go into the season and the two teams in at least a three-way fight for the top of the Eastern Division, the New York Islanders opened a six-game home game with an unmistakable 8-3 win. against the Washington Capitals.

It’s the first of five meetings this month, the first time in four tries that the Islanders have beaten the team they dropped from the playoffs last summer, and a much-needed scoring explosion for a team that has struggled to maintain the attack since the end of the season. injury to Anders Lee.

Oh, and on that note: the front row in particular had some difficulty without Lee, and with recently lined up Leo Komarov in his place. But tonight it was all sauce, with Mathew Barzal recording a hat trick and his first five-point game since his rookie freewheeling year.

The Isles had several three-goal leads, but the first two times they let the Capitals pick one up. Despite this, Semyon Varlamov’s stable glove and assertive positioning kept things from getting too uncomfortable once the Islands took the lead.

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First period: there will be goals … possibly

“A good start … is that the word?” -Mannish

>> “Inopportune.” —Brendan

It was a rough start, that’s what the MSG team said, and it was like a bad “we’re going again” omen when the Capitals opened the scoring just a minute after the game. A rally to the blue line with the help of the linesman kept the puck in the islands zone, and Semyon Varlamov did not appear to see a shot from John Carlson from high into the zone.

This came after a delay of only 30 seconds, when TJ Oshie took out his own goalie as he sailed behind the net. It’s the kind of goalie head-to-shoulder collision that would spark a lot of anger and headhunting accusations if Oshie wore an Isles jersey.

Ilya Samsonov was on the ground and left for observation. He would return with about three minutes to go in the period – appearing to come out and kick Vitek Vanecek out of his box – but not before the Islanders lead Vanacek twice to take the lead, they’ll never give up.

Their first shot against Vanacek equalized the game, with Jordan Eberle completing a sweet cross pass from Leo Komarov at 5:02. (You read correctly.)

That goal was consistent with good play and coordination as the Isles rebounded from the first game. During intermission, Shannon Hogan asked Eberle about developing chemistry with Komarov, and Eberle and AJ each said with genuine sincerity that yes, it helps that Komarov is “predictable.” But the question and the first part of the answer still made me laugh, so …

But anyway, let’s go back to the first half, because a lot of time has passed. Both teams took their turn with sustained and grueling possession from the defense in the other team’s area, but the goal eruption wouldn’t really start until four minutes were left.

It all started with absolute Barzal beauty: unassisted, starting from his goal line, dodging all the capitals and making them all feel ashamed:

A minute and a half later, a good Isles forward check gave Brock Nelson a helping hand as the Islanders stalked the front of the net to make it 3-1, with their first count against Samsonov.

Just 22 seconds later, the Isles returned Daniel Sprong with a sneaky face-off victory and a quick shot into the Islands area.

But another good forward test helped restore the two-goal lead just a minute later, with Barzal ending a spinorama after Samsonov overplayed the angle.

Second period: goals will continue

The Isles kept the pressure on and built their first three-goal lead after – again – more sustained forward control leading to a lucky rebound goal for Casey Cizikas as he stalked the net. It happened three minutes after the period started and teased a rash that would never come fully.

Just over five minutes into the period, Barzal had the clearest and least contested breakaway I can remember seeing in his Islanders career. He had plenty of time to pick his spot and make a dramatic capper. He chose his place, but was slow to try to get on, and Samsonov put a full glove on to end the test.

A few minutes later we had classic momentum potential, as the Islanders were called on a pretty dubious penalty for too many men while their defenders made the long change. The Capitals, as they did on half of their power plays against the Islands, converted on that one – albeit thanks to a lucky rebound. Semyon Varlamov made the first save on the Alex Ovechkin one-stopper mark, but the rebound bounced off the skate of TJ Oshie, who was passing and was no wiser.

Fortunately, the Capitals’ defense continued to leak. Once again, Barzal was left alone behind at the Capitals’ blue line, where he accepted a lead pass from Andy Greene and perfectly timed his pass to Jordan Eberle, who finished two-on-one to restore. the three-goal lead at 6-3.

But just as it looked like the Isles would reach the third period with supreme comfort, the Capitals recovered once again. The Capitals led an opportunistic run on the ice with a 3v2 that turned into a 3v3, but the Isles failed to improve their coverage. Carlson rushed to the gate, where he was left wide open to convert a pass from Jakub Vrana with just a minute left in the period.

6-4 goes into the third.

Third period: hat trick festival

While you’re never really sure, you felt like the Islanders finally locked things down when Josh Bailey completed another good forward control streak just three minutes into the final period.

That made it 7-4, and no more goals were to come until 6:54 p.m., when Barzal ended a banner night with yet one more variation on a flagship goal: to hit a bounce in the air – and at legal height, after Anthony Beauvillier swung and missed at an illegal height – and what I’m told is the opening day of Major League Baseball.

It gave us our first live hats in a long time and our final score of 8-4. Lots of postures and jaws happened in the last minute as Nic Dowd did some stupid things and heard about it from Matt Martin, among others. (Dowd and Casey Cizikas would continue to cross the center red line as the bells rang and the umpires attempted to drive the players off the ice.)

Martin and Zdeno Chara have embarked on a wrestling duel to turn off the clock and make sure no one is hurt by actual blows.

These teams, they will meet again.

“Every time you play them there will be tight controls and strong emotion. I’m sure they’ll come back next time with an answer, and play hard, and we’ll have to match that.

>> Brock Nelson

Hey Barry Trotz, was this frenzy of events fun or maddening?

“These games are fun because you have two good teams, two intense teams. Ideally, you want to feel like you’re in control, but … Washington has special players, a lot of weapons, so you’re going to give up some things.

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It’s a three-way tie at the top with 50 points for DC, Pittsburgh and the Islands. The Capitals are in Newark tomorrow night, the Isles host the Flyers on Saturday, the Penguins (who beat the Bruins tonight) remain in Boston for a rematch on Saturday.