Mathew Barzal explains his retaliatory two-handed slash — and why he has no Islanders regrets

CHICAGO — It’s not usually Mathew Barzal’s role to police things.

Going after Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment with a two-handed slash after his trip of Matthew Schaefer on Sunday, though, was a “split-second decision” — and one Barzal doesn’t regret one bit. 

“Schaef’s our guy. He’s 18 years old,” Barzal said before the Islanders faced the Blackhawks on Tuesday. “Guy wants to run around and go after an 18-year-old, that’s just not gonna fly in this dressing room. We made that clear as a group. 

Linesman Andrew Smith skates Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders to the penalty box after being called for slashing on Mason Marchment during a Dec. 28 game. Getty Images

“He’s gonna be one of the best players in the league at some point. We want to show him that he’s our guy. We’re gonna take care of him. I think the reaction from the group, it was nice to hear [coach] Patrick [Roy’s] comments after the game. We talked, talked to the boys. Like Patrick said, I think anytime a guy sticks up for a player, especially a younger guy like that, it goes a long way in this room. It was my turn, I guess.” 

Barzal was fined $5,000 but avoided a suspension over the play. He said that he knew missing Tuesday’s game was a possibility but noted that Marchment wasn’t hurt and played the rest of the game. 

“Didn’t go after a knee or wrist or anything. At the end of the day we’re a team,” Barzal said. “We want to be Team Tough. I was the first guy there.”