BROOKLYN, N.Y. Mathew Barzal swears he holds no personal grudge against the New York Rangers. Yet, the Islanders rookie sensation and Calder Trophy favorite sure seems to enjoy putting a beatdown on his teams biggest rival. After a sisting on all three Islander goals in Thursdays 3-0 win over the Rangers Thursday at the Barclays Center, Barzal already has nine points in only three career games against the Blueshirts. MORE : Its not just (the Rangers), I love playing big games, Barzal explained to Sporting News. Even in Junior, I loved playing in the big games, and thats what makes it fun. (Thursday) was fun. Right from the get-go, it was intense. That gets me going. John Farinacci Jersey Certainly, the Rangers-Islanders rivalry produces a playoff-like atmosphere even during the regular season. And the 20-year-old scoring whiz clearly feeds off that energy. When you hear fans chirping each other, chanting Rangers and Islanders, its so much fun and Jason Allison Jersey elevates my game, said Barzal. It started this past Oct. 19 when Barzal scored his first NHL goal in his baptism of the Rangers-Islanders rivalry, a 4-3 shootout win for the Isles. Barzal admitted that playing at Madison Square Garden makes you feel like a rock star. MORE: Like a true rock star, Barzal took center stage when the teams met again at MSG on Jan. 13. In that 7-2 Islanders victory, Barzal scored twice and added three a sists for his second of three five-point games already in his first NHL season. I think its just the magnitude of the rivalry, it gets me going, for sure, stated Barzal, who leads all rookies with 62 points and 46 a sists. For me, I love playing in the big games when the crowd is excited. All three times weve played these guys, it feels like a playoff game, and you can feel that rich rivalry. Thursdays clash John Wensink Jersey was thick with playoff implications for both teams. With the victory, the Islanders moved three points clear of the Rangers in the tight Eastern Conference standings and within a point of the second and final playoff seed held by the Carolina Hurricanes, whom the Isles face in Raleigh Friday night. Barzal helped set up Josh Bailey for a power play goal just 4:53 into the contest. Then at 15:06 of the second period, he made a perfect pa s from the right-wing boards to a cutting Nick Leddy, who in turn found Jordan Eberle all alone to bury his 20th goal into a yawning Jeremy Swayman Jersey net. Any time is involved with the play, there’s bound to be some magic. NHL (@NHL) The rookie completed his seventh game of three points or more, a sisting on Thomas Hickeys third-period goal a brilliant pa s through the slot that opened a lane to the net for the Isles defenseman. Its not just against the Rangers, hes been playing really well for us all season long, said Bailey. Hes so crafty, and hes able to create space for himself and his linemates, and you can see the results. Mathew Barzal is the third rookie in history to eclipse the 60-point mark in a season. NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) There have been some growing pains for Barzal this season. Just this past week he was benched in a game against the Calgary Flames two nights after another five-point effort in a wild overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Not surprisingly he was back on the upswing facing the Rangers on Thursday. You can sense the rivalry, Barzal concluded. Its so much fun to play Jeffrey Viel Jersey in such an exciting game with the whole city, the whole hockey base in New York, watching and excited for the game. This is the atmosphere I love playing in.