Islanders center Mathew Barzal celebrates his goal against the Penguins during the third period of an NHL game at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Barry Trotz has been clear to Mathew Barzal that his true value to the Islanders is on the ice and not in the penalty box.
The top-line center certainly seems to have heeded his coach.
Barzal entered Saturday night’s game against the Bruins at Nassau Coliseum without taking a penalty in three straight games after pushing his team-high penalty minutes total to 24 with a holding call and then a high-stick that led to the Flyers’ winning power-play goal in a 4-3 overtime loss in Philadelphia on Jan.