While the game itself was a back-and-forth battle of momentum swings, Barzal, a self-professed lover of high stakes, rose to the occasion when the game was sent into overtime.
The 21-year-old centerman drove to the net forcing the Penguins blue line to collapse and forced goaltender Matt Murray to abandon his crease. Barzal's backhander clanked off the post, but fortunately, the backdoor wide open for Josh Bailey to seal the win. Trotz said Barzal "set the tone" in his first playoff game.
"I know Barzy in particular was really enjoying the moment," Trotz said. "He was enjoying the fact that he was lining up sometimes against Sid or Makin in a playoff game. That's something for him. He likes the big moment, which all top players do. They don't get small by the moment, they get big. I thought Barzy was big in the moment and obviously he had a lot to do with that winning goal."
Beauvillier, who took a maintenance day at Thursday's practice, logged 11:01 time on ice and played a major piece in what would have been the Isles go-ahead goal had the Penguins not tied it up 3-3 with 1:29 remaining in regulation. Beauvillier obstructed Murray with screen down low as defenseman Nick Leddy ripped a shot from the point.
"He was on the puck," Trotz said of Beauvillier. "Even on the Leddy goal, he was in the dirty area. That goal might not go in if Beau is not right in front of Murray and taking his eyes away a little bit. I liked his game."
Beauvillier is "probable" to return to the lineup for Game 2.