Watch: Bailey's snipe puts Barzal in elite company
Bailey goes top shelf. pic.twitter.com/X4qboPj3gH
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 16, 2018
Mathew Barzal hit another impressive benchmark as his magical first season in the NHL continues.
The New York Islanders phenom nabbed the secondary assist on Josh Bailey's sweet power-play goal less than five minutes into Thursday's game against the New York Rangers, and in doing so, collected his 60th point.
Barzal became the first Islanders rookie to do that in 40 years, joining Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy as the only first-year Islanders to reach the mark, according to statistician Eric Hornick.
Mathew Barzal's assist tonight is his 60th point of 2017-18. He passes David Volek (1988-89) for the 3rd most in a season by a rookie with the @NYIslanders
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 16, 2018
Barzal might be hard-pressed to match Trottier's franchise rookie record of 95, and may find it tough to equal Bossy's mark of 91, but he's built himself a comfortable cushion atop the current NHL rookie crop in the points department.
He entered Thursday's action with a 10-point lead on Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks before at least temporarily padding it with his early helper.
Barzal ultimately registered assists on all three Islanders goals in a 3-0 victory over the Rangers, accomplishing another feat in the process.
Mathew Barzal of the @NYIslanders is the fifth rookie since 1993-94 to post 3+ points in a game at least seven times in a season. #NHLStats #NYRvsNYI pic.twitter.com/aughxcP1tp
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 16, 2018