Mathew Barzal of the Islanders skates in warm-ups prior to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Flyers during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday in Toronto. Credit: Getty Images/Elsa
The overwhelming talent is always in plain view. Mathew Barzal skates like few others can in the NHL and adds in a playmaking ability and vision that simply can’t be taught.
But as the Islanders advanced through the rough-and-tumble NHL playoffs and opened Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night against the Lightning at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Barzal’s evolution as a more complete player has also been easy to see.