As he set goals and expectations for himself before the season began, even Mathew Barzal didn’t expect anything quite like this.

After playing two games with the Islanders last season before being sent back to juniors, the center just wanted to accomplish some simpler things this year like, for one, sticking in the NHL for 82 games. Leading all rookies in assists and points and having the inside track to win the Calder Trophy? Not so much.

“I don’t think maybe to this extent, just in terms of numbers wise,” said Barzal before the Islanders’ 6-3 loss to the Canadiens on Friday. “I wanted to be an impact player and I wanted to be somebody they can rely on. I wanted to be in the lineup consistently. I don’t think early on I expected this much success.”

If there was a rookie wall to be hit, the 20-year-old Barzal, who has 18 goals and 49 assists, quickly knocked it down. Besides starting the season with five straight scoreless games, the longest he has gone without a point is three games (twice).

The Islanders need everything they can get from Barzal as they wind down the regular season needing a major run to have any hope of sneaking into the playoffs.

“I don’t think anyone’s really in panic mode just yet,” Barzal said. “We know we just gotta win games now. It’s as simple as that.”

While some Islanders have entered scoring droughts that have forced coach Doug Weight to shuffle the lines in hope of finding a spark, the second unit has remained a source of consistency. With Barzal centering Anthony Beauvillier and Jordan Eberle, the line had combined to tally six goals and 11 assists over the last six games before Friday.

Along with developing a chemistry on and off the ice with Barzal, Eberle has served another important role.

“He chirps me pretty good,” Barzal said.

His teammates’ good-natured ribbing helps Barzal stay grounded through a rookie season that has doubled as a non-stop highlight reel with his speed and stick skills.

“We got a great group of older veterans,” Barzal said. “They make sure I’m not getting complacent or not reading into too much publicity stuff and media attention. They’ve done a great job just being my friend and being great teammates and making sure I’m working hard and not letting anything go to my head.”

Barzal can get a daily reminder from his landlord, Dennis Seidenberg. The 36-year-old defenseman, who already has three kids of his own, offered up the basement of his Garden City house to Barzal. After Seidenberg’s wife, Rebecca, gave the idea a thumbs up, Barzal moved in.

“It’s been great,” Barzal said. “He keeps me busy, I’m not at home by myself all day just bored and playing video games. They got three kids and it keeps me on my toes. Obviously Seids is such a pro. He helps me a lot in that sense.”

With a month left in the season, Barzal appears to be in the driver’s seat for the Calder Trophy. The biggest threat to that feat is Canucks 21-year-old winger Brock Boeser, who owns the rookie lead of 29 goals to go with 25 assists.

Though the veterans will be there to make sure Barzal doesn’t get too cocky if he does take home the NHL’s top rookie honor, they’re still counted among those who are impressed by what he’s accomplished.

“He’s got a lot of confidence — not in a bad way,” said winger Josh Bailey, who played on Barzal’s line earlier this season. “I think that’s what makes him such a good player is he’s able to bring that confidence into his play.”

The Islanders’ highest-paid player has gone cold at the worst time.

Finishing the second year of a seven-year, $38.5 million contract, Andrew Ladd entered Friday without a goal in his past 20 games. Earning $7.5 million this season, the 32-year-old winger’s only points since Dec. 27 are four assists. One of them came Friday, his first point in 11 games.

“He’s trying everything,” coach Doug Weight said before the game. “He’s gotta get to the net and he’s gotta play a little feistier.”

Backup goalie Christopher Gibson will get his first start of the season Saturday in Pittsburgh.