TEMPE, Ariz. — Mathew Barzal was named an All-Star for the third time in his profession on Thursday because the NHL released its initial list of players who will head to Toronto a month from now with one from each team.
Barzal was also an All-Star in 2019 and 2020, winning fastest skater within the latter 12 months when he was just .003 seconds off an all-time record within the competition.
The Islanders’ winger modified positions from center to accommodate Bo Horvat’s arrival last February and has turned in a wonderful begin to the season playing alongside him.
Barzal is on pace to average over some extent per game for just the second time in his profession with 39 points within the season’s first 37 games following a two-assist night in Thursday’s 5-1 win over the Coyotes.
“It’s nice to be chosen,” Barzal said. “Obviously we’ve some guys on the team which have had great starts, there could’ve been just a few of us that [could’ve] gone. Hopefully a few of the other boys get voted in.
“It’s exciting. You’re around the perfect in the sport. That’s where I would like to be. Looking forward to it.”
Barzal marked the occasion by scoring his four-hundredth profession point in the shape of a first-period assist to Mike Reilly.
“I’m very glad for him,” coach Lane Lambert said. “If you’re an All-Star within the National Hockey League, it’s a reasonably special thing and he’s a special player.”
The Islanders have multiple other players with a probability to be named within the fan voting, which selects the ultimate 12 All-Stars and closes on Jan. 11, specifically Horvat and defenseman Noah Dobson.
Brock Nelson and Ilya Sorokin, who represented the club last 12 months in South Florida, could each have a shot as well.
Semyon Varlamov is day-to-day with a lower-body injury after leaving Tuesday’s loss to the Avalanche throughout the first period, Lambert said.
“There’s no sense of when he might find a way to play,” Lambert said. “He’s day-to-day and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Varlamov did remain with the Islanders on the road.
AHL call-up Ken Appleby backed up Sorokin in Varlamov’s absence on Thursday.
Sebastian Aho rejoined the lineup with Robert Bortuzzo (lower body) on injured reserve after appearing to harm his right leg on successful from Samuel Girard on Tuesday.
“Robert got here in and did an incredible job of providing leadership, so really good within the locker room. You actually lose that, that’s an important piece of the puzzle,” Lambert said. “And he’s big and he’s tough. It’s unlucky that he got hurt.”
Matt Martin drew back in for Hudson Fasching, skating with usual suspects Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck on the fourth line.
