Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Nets goal in loss to Carolina
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Barzal scored a goal in the Islanders' 4-3 overtime loss to Carolina in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Barzal provided his first goal and first point of the 2023 playoffs. Although he didn't play from Feb. 20-April 12 because of a lower-body injury, Barzal returned for Game 1 on Monday and logged 21:12 of ice time. He received another 19:06 during Wednesday's contest, and the 25-year-old should continue to serve on the top line and first power-play unit.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Expects to play in Game 1
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Barzal (lower body) is expected to play in the Islanders' playoff opener Monday versus Carolina, Denis Gorman of NHL.com reports.
Barzal declared himself good to go following Friday's practice. He finished second on the Islanders with 51 points and 37 assists despite missing the final 23 games of the regular season. Barzal is projected to play on the top line and first power-play unit.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Skating at practice Friday
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Barzal (lower body) is at practice Friday, according to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News.
Barzal missed the final 23 games of the season with the injury. He had 14 goals and 37 assists in 58 games this season, including four tallies and 19 points on the power play. Barzal was skating with Bo Horvat and Anders Lee at practice. Barzal hopes to be in the lineup Monday for Game 1 against the Hurricanes.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: No guarantee for Game 1
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Barzal (lower body) is not guaranteed to return for the Islanders' first playoff game, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com reports.
Barzal missed the last 23 games of the regular season, but the Islanders clinched a playoff spot Wednesday, so he'll still have something to work his way back to this season. The NHL postseason begins Monday, but Barzal isn't practicing yet, so it remains unclear when he might return.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Out Wednesday
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Barzal (lower body) isn't expected to play Wednesday versus Montreal.
Barzal was on the ice before Wednesday's optional skate, but he hasn't resumed practicing yet. This is the Islanders' regular-season finale, but they have a chance to make the playoffs and if they do, then Barzal might be available for that. He has 14 goals and 51 points in 58 contests in 2022-23.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Will skate on weekend
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Barzal (lower body) will start skating this weekend according to GM Lou Lamoriello.
Barzal has been out of action since Feb. 20. "He will begin skating either today or tomorrow and then whatever the progress is, how long it takes, I couldn't tell you," Lamoriello said Saturday. Barzal has 14 goals and 51 points in 58 games this season. The hope is that he returns to the lineup before the start of the postseason, assuming the Islanders remain in a wild card spot.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Not skating
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Barzal (lower body) has yet to start skating, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Barzal has been out of action since Feb. 20. He has missed the last 13 games and it's beginning to look like he may not return during the regular season. He has 14 goals and 51 points in 58 games this season.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Still not skating
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Coach Lane Lambert said Saturday that there is still no timetable for Barzal (lower body) to start skating, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Barzal has been out of action since Feb. 20, a span of eight games. He has 14 goals and 51 points in 58 games this season. Prior to getting hurt, Barzal had two goals and six assists in seven games skating alongside trade acquisition Bo Horvat.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Remains week-to-week
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Barzal (lower body) is still considered week-to-week, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Barzal has not resumed skating, and there's no firm timeline in place for his return. His absence can be considered indefinite until he returns to practice.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Ruled out indefinitely
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Barzal will be out indefinitely after suffering a lower-body injury against Boston on Saturday.
Barzal's absence will be a huge blow for a team in the midst of a competitive playoff race, especially after shelling out to bring in Bo Horvat ahead of the trade deadline. In those seven games with Horvat on the team, the 25-year-old Barzal was on an offensive tear with two goals and six assists, including a trio of power-play points. With Barzal sidelined, Simon Holmstrom could find himself elevated to a first-line role.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Suffers injury Saturday
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Barzal (undisclosed) was hurt in Saturday's game versus the Bruins, and head coach Lane Lambert had no update on his status following the contest, Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now reports.
Barzal logged just three shifts in the game, though the Islanders haven't provided an official explanation for his absence. He should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's game versus the Penguins.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Two helpers in Friday's win
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Barzal picked up two assists in Friday's 5-4 win over the Penguins.
He set up both of Anders Lee's tallies on the night. The addition of Bo Horvat to the Islanders' lineup has lit a fire under Barzal, and over the last seven games the 25-year-old has produced three goals and nine points, putting him back on pace for his best season since his 2017-18 rookie breakout.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Three points in loss
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Barzal scored a goal and added two assists in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Canucks.
One of his assists came on the power play. Barzal has been excellent since moving to the wing to play alongside Bo Horvat. During his four-game point streak, Barzal has three goals and three helpers, and his power-play assist Thursday was his first point with the man advantage since Jan. 3. The 25-year-old is up to 14 tallies, 34 helpers, 128 shots on net, 17 power-play points and a plus-6 rating through 54 contests this season. The window to buy low on Barzal in a trade is running out, especially after a performance like Thursday's.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Sets new career high in GWG
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Barzal scored the game-winning goal in Monday's 2-1 win over the Flyers.
He redirected a Brock Nelson feed past Carter Hart midway through the second period to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead that Semyon Varlamov was able to make hold up. Barzal is more known for his playmaking that his sniping and hasn't reached the 20-goal mark in a season since 2017-18, but the 25-year-old is making his tallies count this season. He's already set a new career high with five game-winners, despite scoring only 13 goals through 52 games.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Brushes twine in victory
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Barzal found the back of the net in Monday's 2-1 win over the Flyers.
Barzal put some lumber on a Noah Dobson shot and deflected the puck into the cage for his 13th goal and 44th point of the season. He's been clutch with five game-winning goals, and the addition of Bo Horvat -- formerly the Canucks captain -- figures to be a major boon to Barzal down the stretch.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: First goal in 11 games
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Barzal scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime win Saturday over the Golden Knights.
There were 32 seconds remaining when he faked a one-timer, skated into the top of the right circle, and went blocker side on Logan Thompson. The goal was a welcome relief for Barzal, who had just one assist in the previous 10 games and hadn't scored in the same span. Still, the offensive wizard has 43 points, including 12 goals, in 51 games this season and could see his point totals go up if the Isles trade for a bonafide scoring threat before the deadline.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Scoreless in six straight
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Barzal hasn't registered a point since sitting out a game Jan. 6 with a lower-body injury.
There is no word on whether the injury is related to the lack of production from Barzal or if he's simply in a slump. Barzal has 11 goals and 30 assists in 46 games this season. The assists and points lead the Islanders, while he's fourth on the team in goals. The Islanders need more from Barzal, but a lack of scoring wingers for him to set up has seemingly hurt his production. The center's supporting cast may not change this season unless the team is willing to make a big trade before the March 3 deadline.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Expected to play Tuesday
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Barzal (lower body) is expected to be available to play Tuesday versus Dallas, Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now reports.
Barzal returned to the top line during Monday's practice after being a late scratch for Friday's contest against Calgary. He leads the Islanders with 30 assists and 41 points in 40 games this season.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Unavailable Friday
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Barzal (lower body) will not suit up Friday against Calgary, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Barzal was a late scratch Friday, and it's unclear how severe his injury is, though he's currently considered day-to-day. The 25-year-old has 41 points through 40 games, including 10 over his last seven contests. Ross Johnston will enter Friday's lineup.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Extends scoring streak in loss
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Barzal scored a goal on four shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Edmonton.
Barzal cut the Oilers' lead to 2-1 in the second period, beating Jack Campbell with a wrist shot from the circle. The goal extends Barzal's scoring streak to five games, and he's tallied 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his last seven contests. Barzal now has 11 goals and 30 assists through 40 games this season.
