Rob Simpson: How the Islanders Defense Shut Down Aleksander Barkov | NYHN+

By Rob Simpson
Special to NYI Hockey Now

Editors Note: Rob Simpson will be providing coverage from inside the Toronto bubble throughout the playoffs for NYI Hockey Now and the Hockey Now network of sites. 

TORONTO — This is a classic example of the Islanders limiting a star player’s chances.

The Panthers didn’t do themselves any favors by spending so much time in the penalty box early. It took the Cats away from establishing any five-on-five tempo. This simply played into coach Barry Trotz’s hands. 

The following is a shift diary of Florida captain Aleksander Barkov’s night. Interesting to see how it unfolded and how for the most part the Isles were able to wrangle the top line. 

As New York held the lead, the FLA desperation level increased as the game went on, as did Barkov’s ice time. Times are approximate. 

Aleksander Barkov- Period 1

0:00-0:35: Starts game. Dump in. In on forecheck. Isles successfully clear zone. Sasha back-tracks, circles neutral zone as D gains possession and heads to the bench.

1:29-1:50: Wins offensive zone draw on 4 on 4 in RW circle. Huberdeau centering pass goes awry. Backcheck as NYI get weak shot on goal on solo rush. 

4:16-5:12: Up ice on the PK, backpedals, gains puck and clears.  Penalty expires. Cruises to backcheck as another penalty is called. He goes to bench as his team goes back on the PK. Dadonov – interference.

7:05-8:20: Jumps out and joins the PK again. As planned, on ice with top-line as penalty expires. His line’s counter-attack is broken up in the neutral zone. NYI counter with pressure. Stuck in D zone, Barkov guards the front of the net and also pressures behind net. Zone cleared, hustles to bench tired. 

10:35-11:20: Joins rush. Pressure for FLA. Icing by NYI. Wins draw in LW circle. Pressure but not scoring threat. NYI nullify next icing by winning race to puck. Barkov to bench during the dump in.

(12:00 – JG Pageau makes it 1-0 New York)

13:25-14:10: Most productive shift thus far. Finding legs. Creates turnover in the neutral zone, pressure on forecheck as NYI backpedal after errant pass. In deep on forecheck in RW corner, gives Toews a bump. Helps break up two different NYI breakouts, his D gain possession at their own line – he redirects dump in from center-ice and heads to the bench.  

15:30-17:00: Wins NZ draw, team gains zone and almost immediately goes on the power play after Adam Pelech goes off for boarding Dadonov. Loses LW circle to start power play, but turnover created. Pressure. No great scoring chances. Panthers regroup after clear, regain zone. Goalie covers. He loses LW circle face-off again on PP and complains to linesman about the puck drop as he skates away. Cats gain zone again, scoring chance. Barkov bats backhand puck out of the air along the left post. Save made. NYI clear rebound and #16 heads to the bench.  

2nd Period – Even strength play picks up, as does Barkov’s

0:00-0:31: Wins opening face-off on a tie-up. Puck to LW boards, dumped in, forecheck created. Early scoring chance. He battles for puck along the RW boards and manages a centering pass that gets broken up. Isles counter-attack and dump. To bench.

(At 2:44 Mike Matheson drilled Johnny Boychuk with a headshot, picked up a two-minute minor penalty. It was first called a 5-minute major but changed upon review. Either way, more Panther PK time and it amped up the feistiness. NYI would score on the PP at 3:39 to make it 2-0))

3:39-4:25: Panthers rush from top-line off center ice draw. Traffic in front, Barkov to the slot but no scoring chance. Forecheck pressure but NYI finally able to clear. Insignificant puck battles in NZ result in Islander dump in and Panther line change.

7:07-8:06: Neutral zone face-off loss off TV timeout. Quick rush and shot on goal for Islanders. Offside against Panthers on the ensuing rush. (7:24) Tie up neutral zone draw, Islanders win it. Dump in. Panthers on counter-attack off regroup, trouble gaining zone. Quiet feet for Barkov, waiting for things to develop in the N zone. Finally jumps in late for a shot top of the LW circle through defender Nick Leddy and Varlamov easily holds on.

10:24-11:26: Off bench to join intense offensive pressure. Great forecheck. Wheeling in RW corner gets a shot on goal, creates a screen, and later tips one on. Level of desperation noticeable down two-nothing.

13:30-14:14: Off bench to join play with a temporary line juggle. Delivers a hit on LW boards after a Panther dump in. Isles counter attack results in a weak shot and a whistle. TV time-out. Shift continues after the break. Shot on goal off LW circle faceoff win. Rebound cleared, Isles counter attack leads to an excellent scoring chance in close for Beauvillier. Bobrovksi covers. Line to bench. 

16:00-16:15: Joins play off the bench. Some popcorn hockey in the neutral zone as teams give it up back and forth. No rush established until Isles get one with a quick shot and cover-up by Bobrovsky. Face-off in D zone RW circle, Barkov replaced after remaining on-ice during TV timeout. (he’ll come back for an O zone draw) 

16:38-17:25: Offensive zone face-off win. Shot from left point covered. Back in LW circle, Barkov loses this one, Isles clear far boards. Panthers fail to gain zone on Barkov pass at blueline. Isles dump deep again. Cats regroup – Barkov cuts to net on backhand, his shot attempt is deflected up into the netting. He takes a heavy bump along the end boards from Pelech after the whistle. Scrum and wrestling ensue. To Bench.

3rd Period

0:00-:23-1:34: Islanders end up with puck at their blue line and LW boards after draw. They chip to Panthers zone. Break out to Barkov through the middle of the ice, with speed, he passes off to Weegar who gives to Huberdeau who cuts to the net from the LW boards and scores at the :23 mark. Barkov was posted up at the RW post as an option. Presence felt – D committed to him. 

(NYI lead cut in half – one goal game)

Forward line stays out for subsequent draw. NYI get a RW face-off circle shot against Barkov. Mostly D and N zone play, to bench after a successful Panthers clear.

3:50-5:03: Easily his most defensive shift. Caught in his own end, lost balance in RW circle in a puck battle and fell. Up to help disrupt a scoring chance. NYI swarming. Battled along end boards. Tie up resulting in a whistle. 

6:05-7:10: Jumps into play. Huberdeau tries to airmail him a hail-mary pass while racing through the neutral zone but it’s broken up. Next brief possession ends in a Panthers icing. Off face-off win, press up ice from FLA. Traffic, one shot hits the side of the LW post. Barkov away from the puck.

8:40-9:40: Joins play off D-zone possession, rush fails, regroup and rush off NYI clear. O Zone gained again. RW pressure with two point shots wide. Barkov operating in RW corner but fancy between-the-legs pass results in turnover and Isles able to clear. 

12:00-12:35: LIne hops on ice to create pressure but no good scoring chance. To bench after Islanders clear the length.

13:58-14:30: Line gains zone. Forecheck starts well RW but fails as puck is chipped out past left point. Long shot attempt by Brock Nelson. Varlamov holds on. Barkov to bench during TV timeout with D zone draw forthcoming.

15:12-15:45: Prolonged neutral zone play until Barkov finally gains possession and goes on solo rush into O zone up the middle. Attempt broken up. Isles on counter-attack leads to a great scoring chance and big save by Bob. Tried to do it himself with clock ticking. 

16:43-17:40: After NYI icing. Out to take LW offensive zone draw but loses it. Puck out of play off Islanders clear. Face-off back in Isles zone in RW circle. Tie up, Isles win it. Panthers regroup off clear and gain zone. Nothing develops. New York clears again.  Regroup, another rush, play broken up. Clear. To bench.

19:15-20:00: Net empty. Panthers fail to gain possession and establish any threat. Neutral zone run around.  

(New York Islanders 2, Florida Panthers 1)

Barkov’s official league stats: TOI 20:13, 1.21 on PP, :36 on PK. 3 shots on goal, 4 hits. Won 47% of draws. 1 blocked shot, 1 giveaway, 1 assist, finished plus 1.