Mathew Barzal is regaining his form, leading the Islanders to a vital victory against Utah with a game-winning goal

But lately, he’s been looking more like his old self. Just the other night, he had his first multipoint game of the season, scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Utah. Coach Patrick Roy praised him, saying Barzal really stepped up and showed leadership on the ice.
Since coming back from his injury on December 15, Barzal has been working hard to get back to his best. He’s been frustrated with his performance, especially after his line created a lot of chances but couldn’t score in the first two periods of the game. But after that winning goal, you could see how relieved and happy he was.
His teammate, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, mentioned how hard Barzal is on himself. He’s been a key player for the team since returning, and everyone can see how much he wants to win. Barzal knows he’s crucial for the Islanders, especially if they want to make a playoff run.
He’s aware that his season hasn’t been great so far, but there’s still time to turn things around. After the game, he expressed how much the win meant to him and the team, especially since they’re fighting for a playoff spot.
Interestingly, this was the first time all season that the Islanders won a game while scoring fewer than three goals. Plus, their third-string goalie, Marcus Hogberg, made history by winning a game for the team, something that hasn’t happened since April 2022.
After returning from Utah, the Islanders took a break from practice on Sunday, likely to recharge after a hard-fought game.