The Islanders got a split of the first two games of their first-round playoff series against the Penguins without any contribution from their best and highest-paid player, Mathew Barzal.
But as the series shifts to Nassau Coliseum for Games 3 and 4, Islanders coach Barry Trotz promised that Barzal has another gear he’ll be able to get to as his team looks to take control of the best-of-seven series.
"Absolutely. Absolutely, he does,’’ Trotz said after a 2-1 loss in Game 2 on Tuesday night. "We're going to need for him to do something. And it's hard, sometimes, because Mathew cares.