The Islanders' Mathew Barzal passes the puck past the Hurricanes' Ethan Bear during the second period of an NHL game in Raleigh, N.C., on Oct. 14. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
NEWARK — There will surely be further milestones in Mathew Barzal’s still-young NHL career.
And while reaching 300 regular-season games, as he will on Thursday night as the Islanders continue their season-opening, 13-game road trip against the Devils at Prudential Center, doesn’t yet make him a grizzled veteran, it would certainly seem to indicate Barzal has reached another stage in his career.
"I think it’s just nice any time you reach those, your first 100, then 200 and 300," Barzal said before the game.