NYHN Daily: Islanders Barzal Has Matured This Postseason & More

The New York Islanders look to take the series lead tonight when they face the Boston Bruins for Game 5 at 6:30. It was a slow start to the playoffs for Mat Barzal, but he has become a force this series. Win or lose, the Islanders look ahead to the next game and never get too high on themselves or too low. That has benefited them in the playoffs. These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Mathew Barzal walked out of the runway to the New York Islanders dressing and onto the ice with a smile from ear to ear. The 24-year-old emphatically shouted “Let’s Go” and “Our House” as he skated around the ice after being named the game’s first star on Saturday. He has been a force this series. (NYI Hockey Now)

You would have never known that the New York Islanders were down 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Boston Bruins going into Game 4 on Saturday night. Win or lose, their demeanor hadn’t changed. That has been the Islanders modus operandi for some time now, but it has become even more noticeable in the playoff spotlight they’ve found themselves in for the third year in a row. The Islanders do not panic and they do not get too high when things are going well. (NYI Hockey Now)

As the Islanders and Bruins shift their battlefield to Boston for Game 5 on Monday night, the Bruins own home-ice advantage in the teams’ best-of-seven second-round playoff series. With the series tied 2-2 and two of the remaining three games — if it goes the full seven — slated to be at TD Garden, for the Islanders to advance to the NHL final four for the second straight year, they’ll have to win at least one game in Boston. (Newsday)

Bruins center David Krejci was fined the maximum $5,000 Sunday for his slashing penalty on Islanders center Mathew Barzal in Game 4. Krejci was initially assessed a five-minute major for spearing after he jabbed Barzal in the groin with his stick, following a nasty exchange between the players at 11:13 of the second period. But the officials reviewed the play to determine if it did warrant a major penalty, and ultimately decided to downgrade it to a two-minute minor for slashing. (Newsday)

Is Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy trying to pull a Craig Berube with the officiating in this tight and physical East Division Final with the New York Islanders?  If so, he better hope calling out the officiating following a 4-1 Game 4 loss and a game in which the physicality from the previous three games boiled over, goes the way it went for Berube in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final and not the way it did for his St. Louis Blues in the first round sweep they suffered to the Colorado Avalanche. (Boston Hockey Now)

Lappy is moving on up. The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Sunday evening that assistant coach Ian Laperriere is the new head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. (Philly Hockey Now)

From his first introduction to Florida, Barkov said it felt like home. “I like it here in Florida,” Barkov said. “It’s nice. It’s a place I’m going to enjoy living in. Everyone is nice, I have a lot of friends already. They’ve helped me very much.” His affection for the place has only grown over the years. And, Florida digs him as well. (Florida Hockey Now)

For the second time in three tournaments, the Detroit Red Wings have themselves a gold medal winner. Wings defenseman Troy Stecher was a prominent presence for Canada as the Canadians edged Finland 3-2 in overtime in the championship game, a rematch of the 2019 gold-medal game. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Jonathan Marchessault scored three goals to lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche Sunday night, evening the best-of-seven Honda West Division Final at two games apiece. (Vegas Hockey Now)

The Colorado Avalanche could not hang with the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 as they drop both games in Vegas. Here are the player grades. (Colorado Hockey Now)