Mathew Barzal is a likely All-Star, but will any other Islanders join him?
Islanders center Mathew Barzal brings the puck up the ice over the blue line during the third period at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 21. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The bulk of the NHL All-Star rosters will be announced on Monday, and Islanders leading scorer Mathew Barzal seems like an obvious choice to be selected for a second straight season.
The real question is whether the Islanders will have any other players on the Metropolitan Division squad for the three-on-three competition. All-Star Weekend will be held Jan. 24-25 in St. Louis.
“I think someone who doesn’t get a lot of recognition around the league is Brock Nelson,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said before Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Wild at Xcel Energy Center. “I just think he’s a little bit under the radar . . . Barzy’s probably the obvious. He’s one of those guys that will bring you out of your seat. He’d be great in the three-on-three. And Anthony Beauvillier is a long-shot type of guy, but he’s had a pretty solid first half.”
Barzal, who had two goals and four assists in his first All-Star appearance, has 16 goals and 17 assists this season. Nelson has 13 goals and 16 assists and Beauvillier has 10 goals and 12 assists.
The Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan), the Bruins’ David Pastrnak (Atlantic), the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (Central) and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid (Pacific) were voted by fans as the squads’ captains, though Ovechkin announced he will skip the game.
The NHL Hockey Operations Department will announce its roster selections on Monday and the fans then will vote on a last man for each team.
Isles files
Nick Leddy’s secondary assist on Matt Martin’s goal was his 300th NHL point . . . Ryan Pulock had a game-high six shots . . . Michael Dal Colle and Noah Dobson were the healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
