Jan 19, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Taylor Hall (4) during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Since the season-ending injury sustained by Anders Lee, the New York Islanders top line has consisted of Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle, and one of Kieffer Bellows or Leo Komarov. From the eye test alone, I liked Bellows on the first line. Barry Trotz didn’t, because he healthy scratched Kieffer and replaced him with Komarov.
The past few games we’ve witnessed what I’d categorize as one of the few times we’ve seen Mat Barzal struggle so consistently to produce that it’s become more than just an outlying blip on the radar.