Islanders' Key Player Barzal Leaves Team Due to Upper-Body Injury, Affecting the League’s Lowest-Scoring Offense

Friday, November 1st, 2024

Mathew Barzal, a standout player for the New York Islanders, has exited the team's road trip because of an upper-body injury. The team has reported that the 27-year-old has traveled back to Long Island for further assessment. They plan to announce the expected recovery timeline following the evaluation.

During the Islanders' 2-0 defeat against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, Barzal logged over 22 minutes on the ice and managed two shots on goal. So far, he has accumulated two goals and five points over 10 games this season, but he has not yet scored during 5-on-5 play.

The Islanders have faced challenges in their offensive performance this season, currently sitting at the bottom of the NHL with an average of 2.10 goals per game. Although they rank 11th in expected goals per 60 minutes, Barzal has been part of the power-play unit, which is ranked 28th in the league.

The team, with a record of 3-5-2, is set to play against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, followed by a game against the New York Rangers on Sunday, before they wrap up their road trip.

During Friday morning's practice, Barzal's linemate Bo Horvat joined captain Anders Lee and forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

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