NEW YORK – New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, who led all rookies with 12 assists and 15 points in 13 games (3-12—15), has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January.
Barzal edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (6-2—8 in 12 GP), Islanders teammate Ryan Pulock (2-6—8 in 13 GP), Pittsburgh Penguins center Dominik Simon (4-3—7 in 11 GP) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (4-3—7 in 12 GP) for the honor.
Barzal registered at least one point in eight of his 13 January appearances, highlighted by 2-3—5 Jan. 13 at NYR – his second five-point performance of the season (also Nov. 5 vs. COL: 0-5—5). Only four other rookies have posted multiple five-point games within a single season during the League’s expansion era (since 1967-68); Barzal became the first to do so since 1981-82 (Marian Stastny).
The 16th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Barzal paces all rookies with 35 assists and 51 points through 52 contests this season. The 20-year-old Coquitlam, B.C., native joins Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (October) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (November and December) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2017-18.
Associated Press
TORONTO
(AP) -- Justin Holl walked into Air Canada Centre on his own a couple
hours before Wednesday night's game, with his minor league equipment bag
and a bundle of sticks in his hands.
He originally expected to have the day off. He was sure glad he played.
Holl
scored in his NHL debut and Travis Dermott got his first goal in his
ninth career game, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-0 victory over
the New York islanders.
"It's almost surreal," Holl said. "You're like `Wait did that really happen?' And you're like, `Nice, it did.'"
The
26-year-old Holl joined the Toronto organization on an AHL contract in
2015-16 before earning a two-way deal last season. He played in 239
minor league games before suiting up against New York.
"I have
confidence in my abilities, sometimes you have to work a little harder
for the things you want," said Holl, who was selected by Chicago in the
second round of the 2010 draft. "You have faith it's all gonna turn out
all right."
Holl and Dermott spent parts of the last two seasons
together on the Toronto Marlies, making the evening that much more
special for the blue-line duo.
"Crazy, you can't put it into
words," the 21-year-old Dermott said. "You can't write it up any more
perfect with (Holl) up here as my partner.
"It all came together perfect tonight."
Kasperi
Kapanen, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple
Leafs (29-18-5), and Frederik Andersen made 28 saves for his fourth
shutout of the season.
Thomas Greiss stopped 45 shots for the Islanders (25-22-5), who also lost 4-1 at home against Florida on Tuesday.
"Just
really unacceptable the level we're playing at," captain John Tavares
said. "Not gonna win too many hockey games the way we've played the last
couple nights."
Toronto had three rookie defensemen in the
lineup after scratching regulars Morgan Rielly (upper body), Roman Polak
(viral infection) and Ron Hainsey (illness). Holl made his NHL debut
alongside first-year skaters Andreas Borgman and Dermott. Defenseman
Nikita Zaitsev returned to Toronto's lineup after missing 17 games with a
foot injury.
The Maple Leafs scored twice in each of the first two periods.
"When
you play a fast team like that it's always a challenge," Islanders
coach Doug Weight said. "They came at us hard and looking back we had
some really good chances we missed.
"Our guys battled, we just have to find a way to be better."
Kapanen opened the scoring 5:37 into the game by jamming in a loose puck near the goal line.
Matthews
doubled the lead when he picked up a Zach Hyman rebound in the slot and
sent a wrist shot by Greiss at 13:39. Jake Gardiner started the play
with a long outlet pass and picked up the other assist to extend his
point streak to six games.
New York appeared to be gaining some
traction before Marner skated into the slot and re-directed a Nazem
Kadri pass to make it 3-0 at 10:32.
Tavares had a great chance to
put his team on the board on the power play, but he juggled the puck at
the side of an open net before getting off a weak shot that Andersen
had no trouble with despite being on his back.
Dermott finished
off a pass from William Nylander with 1:01 to play in the second.
Matthews skated right to the Islanders net to pick up the puck as a
keepsake for Dermott.
"He gets excited any time anybody scores a
goal. You can hear him probably up in the press box," Matthews said.
"Him scoring his first, he was pretty pumped up."
Holl made it
5-0 with a wrist shot from an off angle that slipped through Greiss'
legs at 3:42. This time it was Hyman who collected the puck for his
teammate.
"Obviously, good for those kids," Leafs coach Mike
Babcock said. "You don't get to score your first NHL goal very often -
one time."
NOTES: Toronto F Matt Martin was a healthy scratch for
a third straight game. ... Islanders F Andrew Ladd was activated from
injured reserve and inserted into the lineup after missing nine games
with an upper-body injury.
UP NEXT
Islanders: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Maple Leafs: Visit the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
