The hits just keep on coming for the New York Islanders. They continue to be bitten by the injury bug as yet another regular goes down. The latest injury comes in the form of the team’s best player, Mathew Barzal. He went down after he blocked a Darren Raddysh slapshot off the left knee. With 1:20 to play in the third period in their 3-2 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he went down the tunnel and did not return. He was held out of their game the next night against the Florida Panthers while being evaluated. The 27-year-old had already missed 21 games due to an upper-body injury earlier in the season. Now with the team heading home for their next game, they announced their superstar forward will be out indefinitely.
#Isles Injury Updates: Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower body injury. Scott Mayfield is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 3, 2025
Mathew Barzal Injury
The timing of this injury when the Islanders are in the middle of their best stretch of the season is brutal, to say the least. The team just had its seven-game winning streak snapped in the second of a back-to-back against the Panthers. The offence was just starting to click too, having scored three or more goals in the last nine games. This team has battled adversity and injuries all season. They’ve put themselves in wild card contention sitting just four points out. Doing all this without defencemen Ryan Pulock (IR), Noah Dobson (LTIR), and Mike Reilly (LTIR) or goaltenders Semyon Varlamov (LTIR) and Marcus Hogberg (IR). Now you can add Barzal to that laundry list of injuries. Due to injury, he has only appeared in 30 games this season, scoring 20 points (six goals, 14 assists). This shot block will have him on the shelf for the foreseeable future.
What do we think @Harjas_Grewal? Blocked shot right off the knee #Isles
pic.twitter.com/ww22VuYcz7— 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱 (@IslesFix) February 2, 2025
What does this Injury Mean for the New York Islanders?
Well, it means the supporting cast of the team will have to step up. It means more line shuffling from head coach Patrick Roy, but the way this season has gone fans and players are used to this. Anthony Duclair was moved up to the first line in their last game in wake of the injury. It has been a disappointing campaign for him so far after coming over in free agency this offseason. Only eight points in 22 appearances this season, he was banged up early and when he has played, he hasn’t produced. He will have a big opportunity to change that narrative now playing alongside Anders Lee and Bo Horvat. The injury means Barzal could be placed on LITR which would free up $9.15 million in available cap space. This would allow the Islanders to go out and be active at the trade deadline.
Closing Thoughts
Nothing good comes from losing a player like Barzal. He has rare skating and playmaking abilities that make him an elite player. Ever since he came into the organization back in 2015 when he was a first-round pick you could see it. He is one of if not the best, players the Islanders have and means so much to the guy in the locker room. The loss is a massive hit for a team battling to try and make the playoffs. However, if we have learned anything about this team it’s that they don’t quit, and they will work as hard as possible to find a way to keep winning games. We don’t know when or if Barzal will be able to return from injury this season. We are wishing a speedy recovery for one of the league’s most skilled players.
Main Photo Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
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