Barzal Impresses Crosby and Letang at All-Star Game

Mathew Barzal will take home a tidy sum for winning the NHL All-Star Game with the Metropolitan Division on Saturday night. That's his prize for scoring five points (2G, 3A) in the
Metro's 10-5 win over the Central Division
.
But Barzal took home something more valuable than a cash prize, the sticks and team-signed jersey. The Islanders All-Star took home the respect and appreciation from his peers, including his idol Sidney Crosby and Penguins defenseman Kris Letang.

"Three-on-three, I mean, I don't know if there's anyone better at holding on to the puck," Crosby said. "I think watching him out there with the best, I don't see anyone that beats him in that category."
"The game plan is to give it to Mathew, obviously," Letang said via an interview on NBC. "We played against him in the season and he just controls the whole game on his skating ability and his skills."

Barzal, Crosby and Letang proved to be an effective trio in the final. Crosby had five points (2G, 3A) in the win against the Central - eight total over two games to take MVP honors - while Letang recorded three points (1G, 2A) in the final. Barzal had the primary assist on all three of their goals.
"I was literally laughing on the ice. It was almost just too easy," Barzal said. Sid's] always open and hand it off to him when you're in trouble. It's good. Him and Kris are just obviously two of the best players in the league. It was just so easy for me and I had a blast being out there with them."
***[RELATED: BARZAL AT ALL-STAR WEEKEND*
Barzal opened the scoring for the Metro All-Stars, roofing a shot over Devan Dubnyk 22 seconds into the game. He potted an empty-netter for the Metro's ninth goal and set Crosby up with a nifty backhand drop pass.
"He makes it pretty easy," Crosby said on NBC. "He lugs the puck so well, he skates so well, it was fun to be out there with him."

Getting compliments from his idol left Barzal somewhat speechless during his post-game media availability. Having Crosby rely on him as a linemate was just another surreal moment in a surreal weekend for the 21 year old.
"Sid just said grab it and get us up the ice and he'll find a spot," Barzal said. "It was kind of cool, those guys passing me the puck and them working to get open. I was just trying to find them. Obviously Sid is the best goal scorer - him and Ovi - [and I'm] just trying to get him the puck close to the net... It was just so fun for me to be out there with those two."
Barzal said Crosby made him feel welcome and comfortable in the locker room during the All-Star Game, Barzal's first and Crosby's fourth. Barzal was also praised by eight-time all-star Patrick Kane, another highly-skilled playmaker.

"He's probably a better skater than I am," Kane said at All-Star Media Day. "He's an unbelievable skater, unbelievable on his edges. Just playing against him a couple times this year, it's pretty impressive how he can create time and space just from his footwork and obviously he has the hands to go with it. He seems like a really good kid, I've met him briefly maybe a couple of times on the ice a little bit, but very impressed with his game especially given how young he is."
Barzal got a chance to meet Kane at the Skills Competition, as the two were seen yucking it up by the benches.
"It was fun just catching up and going back and forth a little bit," Barzal said.
All in all, Barzal called his first All-Star Weekend an experience he'd never forget. Impressing the NHL's best is undoubtebly a part of that.
"It's obviously something I'm not going to forget," Barzal said. "My parents are here this week which is great. It's been really fun lately. Our Islander team is doing well, come here and do well and get a chance to play with Sid, Letang and Claude and some new faces. It's been a blast."