Mathew Barzal gets to hang out in Toronto before Islanders join him for game vs. Maple Leafs
NHL All-Star Team Matthews forward Mathew Barzal, of the Islanders, tries to score against NHL All-Star Team Hughes goaltender Thatcher Demko, of the Canucks, during the NHL All-Star Game 3-on-3 tournament in Toronto on Saturday. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
TORONTO — Mathew Barzal called it a “best-case scenario” for him.
The Islanders will resume practicing on Sunday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow before flying to Toronto for Monday night’s game against the Maple Leafs.
Barzal will be waiting for them to arrive after being part of the winning Team Auston Matthews squad in Saturday’s three-on-three All-Star tournament at Scotiabank Arena. Barzal also was part of Friday’s Skills competition during the three-day All-Star Weekend.
“It’s actually probably a best-case scenario to just hang out here,” Barzal said. “Funny enough, the last two days have been pretty hard on my legs. So I’m not going to have plane legs where you take a week off and you only get one practice in. I felt like guys were pushing it pretty good today. I feel like I need tomorrow off, to be honest with you. It was a long weekend.”
The Rangers’ All-Stars, coach Peter Laviolette, goalie Igor Shesterkin and center Vincent Trocheck, flew back to New York on Saturday night. The Rangers will practice on Sunday before facing the Avalanche on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
A coach coaches
Laviolette faced a decision in Team Connor McDavid’s first game. The squad was trailing by two goals late in the second and final period against Team Nathan MacKinnon.
The All-Star Game is a fun event for the players, but there also was a $1 million winner-take-all prize. So Laviolette pulled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for an extra skater in the final two minutes of regulation.
The move worked as Team McDavid tied the game with two goals in the final 32 seconds and advanced to the title game with a 4-3 shootout victory.
“I’m down in the first game and I’m wondering, ‘You take out the goalie, right?’ ” Laviolette said. “The guys are so talented. When they get going, it really shows the skill level on the ice.”
Isles files
Right wing Julien Gauthier cleared waivers and was reassigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport . . . Left wing Simon Holmstrom, who is waiver-exempt, also was reassigned to Bridgeport. Almost certainly, this represents a paper transaction to save money against the salary cap. Holmstrom is expected to be in the lineup against the Maple Leafs . . . Per the NHL media website, Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (lower body) was taken off long-term injured reserve. He last played Dec. 7.
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.
