It’s early November, still time for experiments in the chemistry lab on every NHL team. But the Islanders already have a reaction that need not be tinkered with.
Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal are combusting on the top line, as they did two seasons ago, and show every sign of being hockey soulmates, this time for the long haul.
“They’re both very good skaters, they’re both very high-skill guys,” coach Patrick Roy said before the Islanders faced the Wild on Friday night to conclude a three-game homestand.
“For some reason, they feel each other on the ice. They see each other. It’s been working really well for both of them.”
Barzal’s 2024-25 season was derailed in February by a knee injury, and he began the current campaign as a center on the second line.
But for the past three games starting late in the Oct. 31 game against Washington — a stretch in which the Islanders went 2-0-1 — Roy used Barzal alongside Horvat at center and Emil Heineman on the other wing. Rookie Cal Ritchie now is the second-line center.
“Him and I are familiar with each other and we know each other’s tendencies out there,” Horvat said. “The last game was good, we had a lot of chances and I thought we spent the majority of the time in their end.”
The beauty of the arrangement was evident during Tuesday night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Bruins when Barzal found Horvat for a lovely goal on a two-on-one off a turnover forced by Heineman.
“It’s great,” Barzal told Newsday, referring to being back with Horvat. “He’s easy to play with. I feel like we’ve got a good thing.”
Barzal, who is in his 10th season, called Horvat “probably the best player I’ve played with, and I feel like I’m lucky to have a guy that can, I think, think the game at the same speed.
“We also have complementary styles. I’m very puck possession and passing and he’s very much solid all around and a good shooter . . . He’s definitely the right kind of guy.”
As for the third guy, Roy said of Heineman: “I like his speed. I like his physicality. I think he brings that element that that line needs. When he goes to the net, I think it opens up the game for Barzy and for Bo. And he’s a good scorer. I feel like it’s a great fit.”
Entering Friday, Horvat led the team with nine goals and 15 points. “The pucks are just finally going in,” he said. “It’s a matter of myself getting in those scoring areas. But at the same time, bearing down when I have those opportunities. I’m just trying to put the puck in the net whenever I can and, thankfully, they’re going in right now. I’ve just got to continue to keep doing that.”
Barzal entered Friday tied for the team lead in assists with seven. Heineman was tied for second in goals with five.
Barring injury, it seems unlikely that the trio will be broken up and reassigned anytime soon.
“I wouldn’t want to play with anyone else,” Barzal said. “That’s my guy.”
Notes & quotes: Anders Lee played in his 855th game, tying Matt Martin for eighth in Islanders history . . . Max Shabanov (upper body) missed his eighth game as he continues to skate on his own. Roy said the Russian rookie is making progress. The Islanders hope he travels with them on their upcoming seven-game road trip, which opens against the Rangers on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. “We’d like him to come on the trip,’’ Roy said, “but we can’t guarantee he’s going to play a game on that trip.” . . . Roy, a Hall of Fame goalie, briefly stepped into the crease at Friday’s morning skate to demonstrate a technique to Ilya Sorokin, who made 24 saves against the Bruins and is expected to start against the Rangers. “He asked me about how I was playing the shootout,” Roy said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have much of shootouts in my career . . . I really appreciate that he came to me. I feel like it’s a great step.”. . . Forward Max Tsyplakov and defenseman Adam Boqvist remained the healthy scratches.
