The New York Islanders faced a setback as forward Mathew Barzal was placed on long-term injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. Along with Barzal, defenseman Adam Pelech was also put on IR for a similar injury.
Barzal, who is 27 years old, had to miss at least 10 games and 24 calendar days after being placed on long-term injured reserve. His absence will be felt by the team as he has been a key player, contributing two goals and three assists in the 10 games he played this season.
Pelech, on the other hand, suffered a facial injury after being hit by a puck during the game against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old defenseman has been a consistent performer for the Islanders, with four assists in 11 games this season.
In response to these injuries, the Islanders have recalled defensemen Samuel Bolduc and Grant Hutton from the American Hockey League. Bolduc, 23, has been impressive in the AHL with one goal and four assists in nine games, while Hutton, 29, has contributed two assists in the same number of games.
The team will have to rely on these reinforcements to step up in the absence of Barzal and Pelech. Forward Bo Horvat expressed confidence in the team’s depth, stating that in the face of injuries, other players have historically risen to the occasion.
As the Islanders navigate through this challenging period, the focus will be on maintaining their performance on the ice and adapting to the absence of two key players. The resilience and depth of the team will be put to the test, but with the support of the coaching staff and the remaining players, they are optimistic about overcoming this adversity.