Islanders' Mathew Barzal an All-Star for a third time, this time as a winger
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, front, attempts to block a shot by Islanders center Mathew Barzal during the second period of an NHL game Tuesday in Denver. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
TEMPE, Ariz. — Mathew Barzal is an All-Star for a third time. This selection, though, comes with him as a full-time wing.
The NHL announced on Thursday that Barzal will be the Islanders’ representative to All-Star Weekend in Toronto on Feb. 1-3. Twelve more selections around the NHL (eight skaters, four goalies) will be determined via fan voting.
“It’s nice to be selected,” Barzal said after notching two assists, including his 400th career point, in Thursday night’s 5-1 win over the Coyotes at Mullett Arena. “We have some guys on this team that have had great starts and it could have been a few of us in that game.”
Barzal has 10 goals and 29 assists in 37 games to lead the team in points. It’s his first full season playing wing after he moved from the middle last season to accommodate top-line center Bo Horvat’s acquisition.
“I’m very happy for him,” coach Lane Lambert said. “When you’re an All-Star in the NHL, it’s a pretty special thing.”
Barzal also participated in the 2020 and 2021 All-Star Weekends, winning the fastest skater contest the first year.
Horvat (16 goals, 22 assists), center Brock Nelson (17 goals, 16 assists) and defenseman Noah Dobson (six goals, 32 assists) were all viable candidates. Only Dobson has not gone to an All-Star Weekend.
Varlamov day-to-day
Lambert said goalie Semyon Varlamov is day-to-day with a lower-body injury after exiting Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Avalanche at 14:52 of the first period. Ken Appleby, called up from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Wednesday, was Ilya Sorokin’s backup against the Coyotes.
Isles files
Defenseman Adam Pelech (long-term injured reserve/upper body) participated in his third straight morning skate on the trip. “I think he’s getting real close,” Lambert said . . . Forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Hudson Fasching were healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
