Islanders Turn to Familiar Duo in Search for Offensive Spark
In a season where every point matters, especially in the thick of the Metropolitan Division race, Patrick Roy made a bold move Monday night in Washington: he put Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal back on the same line.
It was the first time since December 30th that the Islanders’ top two centers started a game as linemates, and it wasn’t just a nostalgic reunion - it was a calculated attempt to inject life into an offense that’s been searching for consistency.
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t about one thing. It was about everything.
The Islanders need more offense, and pairing Horvat with Barzal is a card Roy can play when the team needs a jolt. Horvat, who leads the team in goals, entered the night on a six-game scoring drought.
That stretch included a nine-game absence due to a lower-body injury, but his last goal - fittingly - came in that December 30th shootout win in Chicago. On the power play.
With a primary assist from Barzal.
So yes, reuniting them made sense. But it wasn’t just about getting Horvat going.
The move also lightened Barzal’s defensive load, allowing him to focus on what he does best - creating offense with his skating, vision, and elusiveness. Fewer faceoffs, more freedom.
And then there’s the third man on the line: Ondrej Palat. The veteran winger, acquired from the Devils, was playing just his fourth game in an Islanders sweater. But Roy didn’t hesitate to highlight Palat’s role in the trio’s potential success.
“We feel like Palat is a really good fit for these two guys,” Roy said. “He’s a guy that will go to the net. He’s a guy that works really hard.”
That kind of blue-collar effort complements the skill sets of Horvat and Barzal. Palat’s willingness to do the dirty work - win battles, crash the net, create space - could be the glue that holds the line together.
Still, if history is any indicator, this configuration may not last long. Roy has shown a willingness - even a preference - to shuffle his lines frequently.
Part of that is strategic, part of it is survival. The Islanders are in the middle of a brutal stretch: six games in nine nights.
Keeping players fresh and matchups unpredictable has become a necessity.
And let’s not forget, the Horvat-Barzal pairing hasn’t exactly stuck this season. It was the plan back in training camp, but it didn’t make it through the preseason. Even after that win in Chicago, the two were back centering separate lines just days later in a lopsided loss to Utah.
That said, it’s clear both players enjoy playing together. The chemistry is real - and it’s built on mutual respect and complementary styles.
Horvat, when asked what makes Barzal such a dynamic playmaker, didn’t hesitate: “His elusiveness, his ability to be able to turn up and find guys coming in late. His quickness with his skating and being able to separate from guys kind of separates him from all other guys.
His edge work. It’s just my job to not get tied up and get in those open areas to be a shooter for him.”
Barzal, for his part, praised Horvat’s knack for finding space in the chaos: “Bo’s spatial awareness of when he’s open and finding little holes is really elite. A lot of guys have great shots.
But can you find the areas? Can you find that second of quiet space on the ice to be open for a shot?
He does a heck of a job finding that area and I’m always looking for him.”
That kind of connection doesn’t just show up at five-on-five. It translates to the power play too, where the two often share ice time. And when they’re clicking, it’s easy to see why the Islanders envisioned them as long-term linemates when Horvat arrived from Vancouver last season.
Barzal also tipped his cap to Roy for knowing when to shake things up: “Patrick’s got a good eye knowing the timing of the season, what guys are maybe struggling with or need. He’s good at juggling and putting the right combinations together.”
Whether this latest version of the Horvat-Barzal-Palat line sticks around beyond Monday night is anyone’s guess. The Islanders are back at it Tuesday against the Penguins at UBS Arena, and Roy has shown he’s not afraid to change things up on the fly.
But even if it’s temporary, this is a tool Roy knows he can use when the offense needs a spark. And the players know it too.
“It’s nice for a coach, it’s nice to have that in your back pocket,” Horvat said. “It’s our job to do it on the ice.”
And that’s the bottom line. The lineup card can only do so much.
At some point, it’s up to the guys on the ice to make it work. For one night in Washington, the Islanders went back to a familiar formula - and they’ll hope it’s one that can deliver when it matters most.