Circumstances conspired to have coach Barry Trotz finally start Mathew Barzal and Oliver Wahlstrom on a line together for the first time this season in the Islanders’ 4-3 win over the Ducks on Sunday night at UBS Arena.
Barzal, in his second game back after missing six with a lower-body injury has been re-assigned, for now, to Wahlstrom’s third line. Wahlstrom was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for Friday night’s 5-2 win over the Jets.
"I’m just going to look at their five-on-five," said Trotz, dismissing Wahlstrom’s team-low 7:35 of ice time as the result of situational play and special teams.