It’s pretty safe to say Mathew Barzal is one of the best players in the league, and undoubtedly the best on the New York Islanders, but that doesn’t mean he gets a pass. In the third period, against the New York Ranger Barzal and the Rangers’ Brett Howden jousted. It appeared Howden was holding Barzal’s stick for several seconds.
Barzal then retaliated by delivering blows to the back of Howden. A few moments later, the two made a play for the puck and Barzal broke his stick on Howden by cross-checking him.