Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Questionable to return this season
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Barzal (kneecap) is not guaranteed to be back before the end of the regular season, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Barzal's injury and subsequent recovery from a minor procedure has taken longer than expected -- he was initially designated to return in the second half of March. The Islanders are on the fringe for a playoff spot and won't rush the 27-year-old back, so he'll only play again this season if he is 100 percent healthy. Fantasy managers in shallow formats can likely let Barzal go at this point since the long layoff will likely negatively impact his performance even if he can get back into action.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Moves to LTIR
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Barzal (kneecap) was transferred to long-term injured reserve Wednesday, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.
This is simply a procedural move for the Islanders, as they needed to free up cap space to activate Noah Dobson (lower body) from long-term injured reserve. It doesn't impact Barzal's timeline -- he's still expected to be out until mid-to-late March after undergoing a minor procedure on his kneecap. He has already missed six games and will be out well past the requisite totals of 10 contests and 24 days required for LTIR.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Expected to miss about six weeks
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Barzal had a minor procedure done on his kneecap Thursday and could be out for about six weeks, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports Saturday.
Barzal has six goals and 20 points in 30 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign. According to the Islanders, the 27-year-old forward is on injured reserve and out indefinitely. Anthony Duclair has been playing on the top line and the first power-play unit due to Barzal's absence.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Shifted to IR
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Barzal (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Barzal becomes the seventh member of the Islanders to land on injured reserve. The move shouldn't come as a surprise given the forward has been ruled out indefinitely. In typical Islanders fashion, the club hasn't given a clear update on when the 27-year-old British Columbia native might be ready to return to the lineup, but at a minimum, it won't be until after the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Out indefinitely
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Barzal (lower body) is out indefinitely, the Islanders announced Monday.
Barzal missed Sunday's 6-3 loss to Florida after being injured in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over Tampa Bay. He has generated six goals, 20 points, 78 shots on net, 24 blocked shots and 24 hits through 30 appearances this season. Anthony Duclair skated on the top line in Sunday's loss due to Barzal's absence.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Won't play Sunday
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Barzal (undisclosed) will miss Sunday's game against Florida, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.
Barzal was injured during Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over Tampa Bay. More is expected to be known about Barzal's status Monday, but in the meantime, he'll miss at least one game. Anthony Duclair (illness) will draw back into the lineup and take Barzal's usual spot alongside Anders Lee and Bo Horvat.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Hurt after blocking shot
Rotowire
Barzal (undisclosed) was injured on a blocked shot in the third period of Saturday's game versus the Lightning, and there was no update on his status after the contest, Ethan Sears of the New York Post reports.
The injury occurred late in the third period, which hasn't given the Islanders much time to evaluate him. If Barzal can't play Sunday versus the Panthers, Matt Martin or Anthony Duclair (illness) could be options to replace him in the lineup. Additionally, Simon Holmstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau could receive expanded roles.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Provides pair of helpers
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Barzal notched two assists, including one on the power play, and three shots on goal in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Barzal is surging on offense -- this was his third multi-point effort over the last five games. He has three goals and seven assists over eight outings in January. The 27-year-old forward has 18 points (four on the power play), 65 shots on net and a plus-7 rating through 25 appearances this season. Barzal has been a fixture on the top line when healthy.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Tickles twine and slides apple
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Barzal registered a goal on three shots, an assist and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Sharks.
Barzal collected both of his points in the second period Saturday, as he opened the scoring at 8:47 before setting up Noah Dobson's sixth goal of the season with under a minute left. Barzal is enjoying his most productive stretch of the campaign, having accumulated three goals, five helpers and a plus-8 rating through seven outings in January. The right-shot forward played alongside Bo Horvat for much of 2023-24, but head coach Patrick Roy has separated the two at even strength for most of this season. Barzal has struggled at times as a result, but he's found success on the top line lately with Brock Nelson and Anders Lee.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Tallies in Thursday's loss
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Barzal scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.
Barzal scored 30 seconds into the third period, cutting the Flyers' lead to 3-2 at the time. Barzal has been in good form lately with two goals and six assists over his last nine contests, though he has yet to earn a power-play point over 13 outings since he returned from an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old has produced 14 points, 59 shots on net and a plus-4 rating through 23 appearances.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: First multi-point effort of season
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Barzal scored a goal on two shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Saturday's 2-1 win over Utah.
Barzal extended his point streak to five games when he helped out on Brock Nelson's game-tying goal in the third period. With 1:25 left in regulation, Barzal scored to put the Islanders ahead, and that would stand as his first game-winner of the season. He's now at four goals, 13 points, 55 shots on net and a plus-6 rating through 21 appearances. The 27-year-old has looked good lately and should be a team leader on offense throughout the second half.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Nabs helper in win
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Barzal logged an assist, three shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Golden Knights.
Barzal has earned an assist in four straight contests and five of the last six games. The 27-year-old's offense has sparked back to life on a line with Anders Lee and Brock Nelson amid a reshuffling of the Islanders' top six. Barzal has a total of 11 points, 53 shots, 19 hits, 14 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through 20 appearances this season. As long as he stays healthy in the second half, he should be a productive forward who may fly under the radar after he missed six weeks.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Contributes another assist
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Barzal provided an assist in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Maple Leafs.
Barzal now has three points and a plus-1 rating over seven contests since he returned from an upper-body injury. He hasn't gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive games this season, and he also doesn't have a multi-point effort. He's been limited to eight points, 44 shots on net and a minus-2 rating over 17 outings, but given his spot in the Islanders' top six, he could be a buy-low candidate for fantasy.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Pockets helper in win
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Barzal notched an assist, five shots on goal, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Penguins.
Barzal set up Jean-Gabriel Pageau's opening goal in the first period. The helper was Barzal's second point to go with 18 shots on net and a minus-2 rating over five games since he returned from an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old primarily worked as a winger last year and early in 2024-25, but he's been back at center since his return, which has yielded mixed results. Barzal has seven points, 41 shots on net, 15 hits and a minus-5 rating across 15 appearances this season -- a repeat of his 80-point effort in 2023-24 is highly unlikely given his six-week absence, and even a point-per-game pace isn't probable.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Fills empty cage
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Barzal scored an empty-net goal on five shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Maple Leafs.
Barzal picked up his first point in three games since he returned from a long-term upper-body injury. The 27-year-old has been back at center since his return rather than playing on the wing, and it appears his offense is taking some time to come around without Bo Horvat to prop him up. Barzal has six points, 34 shots on net and a minus-4 rating over 13 appearances this season. He's talented, so fantasy managers might want to buy low on him in hopes a lineup shuffle gets him back in a more prominent spot.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Removed from LTIR
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Barzal (upper body) was activated from long-term injured reserve Sunday, per the NHL media site.
Barzal will presumably return to the lineup against Chicago on Sunday after missing the last 21 games. He has generated two goals, three assists and 23 shots on net through 10 appearances this season. Barzal will likely slot back in on the top line and first power-play unit versus the Blackhawks.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Slated to be game-time call
Rotowire
Barzal (upper body) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against Chicago, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.
Barzal will likely return from a 21-game absence against the Blackhawks on Sunday. He has registered two goals, three assists and 23 shots on net through 10 appearances this season.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Still no timetable for return
Rotowire
Per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com, Barzal (upper body) is skating and considered day-to-day, but there is still no timetable for his return, coach Patrick Roy said Thursday.
Barzal has been out of action since Oct. 30 in Columbus and has missed 20 games to date. He was given a 4-6 week recovery time frame, but he has already surpassed the six-week mark with no time for a return in site. Barzal has two goals and five points in 10 games this season, after striking for 80 points in 80 regular-season games in 2023-24.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Resumes skating
Rotowire
Barzal (upper body) is skating on his own, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports Monday.
Barzal has missed the past 19 games after sustaining an injury in a 2-0 loss to Columbus on Oct. 30. The right-shot forward was given a 4-6 week timeline Nov. 2, so he should be nearing a return so long as he hasn't endured any setbacks in his recovery. Once healthy, Barzal will immediately slot in on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit. Barzal's return should provide an instant boost to Bo Horvat, who has struggled without the 27-year-old playmaker.
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Islanders' Mathew Barzal: Moves to LTIR, out 4-6 weeks
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Barzal (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday, per Andrew Gross of Newsday, and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Barzal has registered two goals, three assists, nine blocked shots, nine hits and 23 shots on net through 10 appearances this season. With Barzal unavailable for Friday's 4-3 win over Buffalo, Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau joined Bo Horvat on the top line.
