Barzal pushing to break camp with Isles
Rookie impresses Cronin, Weight with strong start to exhibition slate
Mathew Barzal came very close to sticking with the New York Islanders after making the Opening Night roster a year ago.
This September, the 20-year-old center isn’t leaving any doubt as to whether he’s ready to start and, more importantly, finish the upcoming season in Brooklyn with his NHL teammates.
Barzal scored for the second time in as many games Wednesday night during the Islanders’ 3-2, split-squad, overtime loss to Philadelphia in Allentown, Pennsylvania, improving his case for once again cracking head coach Doug Weight’s roster for the Oct. 6 opener at Columbus.