For the first time, we have a fan-voted goal breakdown. Thank you to everyone who voted and look out for another poll this weekend. Mat Barzal torched the Washington Capitals for a hat-trick and five points on April 1. While all three of his goals were beauties, we’ll focus on his first goal.

Barzal scooped up a loose puck behind his own cage and started up ice while his teammates changed. The speedy center danced through four Capitals and beat Vitek Vanecek high on the short side. It was another in a long line of highlight-reel goals for him this season. Let’s break it down.

As a good defensive team, many of the Islanders’ goals can be traced back to a play in their own end. That is the case with this goal. Noah Dobson and Adam Pelech put in hard work behind their own net to free the puck. First, Dobson made a play on Nicklas Backstrom in the corner to help force the puck behind Semyon Varlamov. Then Pelech pinned Conor Sheary to the boards, which kept the puck loose for Barzal to pick up. When he took it, Barzal took a quick look to see what his options were. Oliver Wahlstrom was there but his stick was up in the air so he wasn’t an option. Barzal had to skate with the puck by himself.

Barzal’s first obstacle was Tom Wilson, who must have not read the scouting report on Barzal. The speedy forward had little trouble beating the slower Tom Wilson. Wilson chose to chase Barzal from behind, an awful angle to play against one of the fastest players in the NHL. By the time he reached the center line, Barzal had Wilson backchecking behind him, Backstrom backchecking on his left, and the defensive pair of Zdeno Chara and Brenden Dillon in front of him all while the rest of the Islanders went for a line change.

Most hockey players would dump the puck in this situation. Mat Barzal is not most hockey players. Chara took a swipe at the puck and missed, giving Barzal an open lane to the middle. He protected the puck from Backstrom and then Chara, who recovered to put himself back in the play and attempt another poke check on Barzal. As he passed the big defenseman, Mat Barzal cut back to the outside, away from Dillon, and ripped the puck over Vanecek’s shoulder for the goal.

The Capitals all got caught swinging their sticks instead of checking Barzal. Defensemen should always be conscious of not committing too hard to a skilled player like Barzal. However, in a one-on-four situation, someone could have bumped him or at least tried to. Instead, Mat Barzal just had to avoid some stick checks on his way to another gorgeous goal.

Although he makes great individual efforts, Barzal also loves to set up his teammates. This goal was an example of what he can do by himself, but he is also an incredible playmaker and passes. He’ll have some new guys to dish the puck to when Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac make their Islanders debuts tonight against the Flyers.

John Smark