‘Really dangerous’ Brayden Point causing Islanders problems

Before the Islanders’ Stanley Cup semifinal series against Tampa Bay even began, Mathew Barzal said he likes to “pick things out” of the game of the Lightning’s Brayden Point to apply to his own.

Considering both players are the top-line centers for their respective teams, it’s understandable why Barzal would want to analyze what has made Point so successful. Especially with how dominant Point has been over the past two postseasons. “I think any time you watch Pointer play, you have an appreciation for the things he can do on the ice and his work ethic,” Barzal said Friday. “I think he’s one of the hardest competitors in the league, just competes really hard in every zone. I don’t think my appreciation has grown, I think it just continually grows and every time he’s on the ice you really get an appreciation for just how hard he works and how smart of a player he really is.”