New York Islanders standout Mathew Barzal has exited the team’s road trip due to an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old forward is back in Long Island seeking medical evaluation, with a timeline for his recovery to be determined following the assessment.
Barzal logged 22:46 of ice time in the Islanders’ recent 2-0 defeat against the Columbus Blue Jackets, managing two shots on goal. So far this season, he has produced two goals and five points in 10 games while maintaining a minus-3 rating. Notably, Barzal has yet to contribute a point during 5-on-5 play.
The absence of Barzal presents a significant challenge for the Islanders, who have struggled offensively, ranking last in the NHL with an average of 2.10 goals per game. Despite generating a solid amount of expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, the team has failed to convert those opportunities into tangible results. Barzal also leads the Islanders in power-play ice time, though the unit currently sits 28th in the league.
In Barzal’s absence, Bo Horvat, his linemate in the top scoring unit, practiced alongside team captain Anders Lee and forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Islanders, who hold a 3-5-2 record, are scheduled to face off against the Buffalo Sabres before concluding their road trip against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Stay tuned for updates on Barzal’s condition and the impact of his injury on the Islanders’ performance moving forward.