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New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal Back on the Ice Thursday Morning

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3 years ago

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Mathew Barzal

EAST MEADOW, NY– New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (day to day) was back skating with the team on Wednesday morning as he works his way back from a lower-body injury. 

Although Mathew Barzal’s return to the ice is a positive sign, he will not be in the lineup Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He did not participate in line rushes and was not part of either power-play groups. 

“I think we want to find out a little bit. (It was) the first time he skated with the group,” New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “So we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”

The Islanders have been without their star forward for the last five contests (2-3-0) after he went down in the second period of the 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on February 26. 

When the lower-body injury took place, it looked rather severe when it first happened, and Barzal’s inability to put weight on his left leg was troublesome. The fact that he tried to return to the contest made it pretty clear that it looked worse or that adrenaline was just a magical thing. 

After the win over the St. Louis Blues on March 5, Trotz made it clear that he wants Barzal 100-percent before he gets back in the lineup.   

“He wants to play, but I’m also going to tell him to make sure that you’re physically, emotionally, all that, 100-percent, so you’re ready to go, so there’s no doubt,” Trotz said. “That will be my message to him.”

 

Per Eric Hornick, Mathew Barzal had never missed a game due to injury before being out of the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks on February 27. He missed a game at the end of the 2020-21 season (rest) and missed three games in December of 2021 due to COVID-19.

This season, Mathew Barzal has 12 goals and 25 assists in 45 games.  

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