NYHN Daily: Islanders Barzal Puts on Show, Takeaways from Win, & More

For the first time all season, the New York Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals. Back by Mat Barzal’s epic hat trick, the Islanders came away with an 8-4 victory. The Islanders had success last night because they made the most of their chances. These stories and more on today’s daily links!

The New York Islanders needed a win and their best player stepped up to the plate. Mathew Barzal recorded his third career hat trick and tied a career-best five-point night (three goals, two assists) to lead the Islanders to an 8-4 win over the Washington Capitals. (NYI Hockey Now)

Down 1-0 after one shot, the Islanders stormed back for a decisive 8-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night at Nassau Coliseum. Barzal stole the show with a trio of highlight-worthy goals in his third NHL hat trick. The offense was clicking in New York’s first win over Washington since the 2020 playoffs. Let’s take a look at the good and the bad from this one. (NYI Hockey Now)

Noah Dobson returned to the Islanders’ lineup in Thursday night’s 8-4 win over the Capitals at Nassau Coliseum after COVID-19 protocols and his subsequent recovery kept the second-year defenseman sidelined for eight games. He logged 13:45 without a shot. “I thought he was pretty solid,” coach Barry Trotz said. (Newsday)

Here are the Talking Points from a very lackluster 4-1 Boston Bruins defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden last night. (Boston Hockey Now)

As the Penguins won their fifth straight game despite a lineup rocked by injury and broke a seven-year streak of losing in Boston, it became apparent: Mike Sullivan might be doing his best coaching job since his first year behind the bench, which began in December 2015 and ended in June 2016 with a Stanley Cup on San Jose ice. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Flyers are quickly falling out of the playoff race. In fact, after their loss to Buffalo on Wednesday night, it’s looking more and more likely that they’ll be sellers at the trade deadline. Who should they trade away? (Philly Hockey Now)

When the season started, the one thing we all knew was the Panthers needed to continue feasting on the Detroit Red Wings if they hoped to make the playoffs. Although Detroit beat Florida twice in 2021, in an eight-game series, that’s not too bad. On Thursday night, the Panthers put a big fat bow on their season series with Detroit, taking their sixth of eight with a 3-2 OT win at BB&T Center. (Florida Hockey Now)’

It wasn’t an ideal game for the Vegas Golden Knights but they did earn a shootout point in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. Both teams battled through regulation time, with the Golden Knights twice taking the lead and the Wild twice tying the game. (Vegas Hockey Now)

In the famous words of character Denis Lemieux in Slap Shot, you don’t do that. As the game got chippy and gloves came off on Wednesday night, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon had one of those moments. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The San Jose Sharks, backed by a sweep of the third-place Minnesota Wild, and a slumping St. Louis Blues team, there is still a chance to make the playoffs. Not a big chance, but a chance nevertheless. Here is what needs to happen. (San Jose Hockey Now)

Mika Zibanejad scored with 28 seconds left in overtime to give the New York Rangers a 3-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday. (NHL.com)

Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault each had a goal and an assist for the Montreal Canadiens in a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday. (NHL.com)

Patrick Kane praised Connor McDavid on Thursday and said the Edmonton Oilers center should clearly be the winner of the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL this season. (NHL.com)

The Vancouver Canucks had three additional games postponed by the NHL on Thursday, through April 6, due to COVID-19 protocol. (NHL.com)

The Nashville Predators had their six-game winning streak end with a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. (NHL.com)