Islanders Lose Mathew Barzal, Zdeno Chara To Injuries Against Kings

In the second period against the Los Angeles Kings, the New York Islanders lost two players to injuries in top-line centerman Mathew Barzal and defenseman Zdeno Chara

With just over eight minutes to play in the middle period, Mathew Barzal was hit by Phillip Danault. His left ankle rolled underneath him and the referee had to blow the play dead shortly after as Barzal was still on the ice.

After being helped off the ice, Barzal did return to the ice and took a shift. Although early on in the shift, his strides looked fine, his skid stop was wobbly. And after taking a small hit in the Kings zone, Barzal slowly left the ice and went back to the locker room.

Mathew Barzal was forced to leave the game after getting tangled up with Phillip Danault in the second period. pic.twitter.com/w1UHEPlqyx

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 27, 2022

He did not return.

The fact that Barzal was able to return initially is a positive sign that his injury is not too severe.

With 9:29 on the clock in the second, Zdeno Chara hit Blake Lizotte just outside the Islanders blue line. There was no injury evident following the hit, but after he went to the locker room that was the end of the night for him.

Chara set the record for most games played amongst defensemen in NHL history on Thursday night with 1,652 games played. At 44, Chara has been able to stay healthy which is why his career has been able to last 24 years.

Islanders head coach Barry Trotz had no other updates following the game besides that Barzal’s injury was lower body and that Chara’s was upper body.

Per Eric Hornick, Mathew Barzal has never missed a game due to injury. 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.

There is media availability Sunday at 5:45 PM ET, so we should get an update then.