Some great news for the Islanders at last: Mathew Barzal makes his season debut tonight against the Ducks in Anaheim. The star forward has not played a single game this season because of a knee injury.
A return Barzal decided himself
Barzal reaggravated a knee injury over the summer and was ruled out of training camp. He missed the first 18 games of the Islanders season. The original plan was a return Tuesday at home against Columbus, but Barzal woke up Saturday feeling good enough to play, and he made the call himself about 45 minutes before the morning skate, according to Ethan Sears. Coach Peter DeBoer confirmed he will dress tonight.
The Islanders activated Barzal from injured reserve Saturday. At the morning skate, he worked with the second power-play unit, while Matias Maccelli worked with the first unit.
A boost for an offence that needs one
Barzal, 29, had one of his best seasons last year, with 19 goals and 53 assists for 72 points in 81 games, including 20 power-play points. The Islanders, at 8-6-4, average 2.94 goals per game, and they badly need their best forward back. They won 5-2 in Los Angeles on Thursday and wrap up a three-game California trip tonight.
What it means for your pool
If you kept Barzal on your injured list, now is the time to put him back in your lineup. His minutes will be watched closely in his first game, so expect a gentle return, but his playmaking talent is still there. In pools, he should settle back into a 70 to 80 point pace over a full season.
Sources
The facts in this article come from Elliotte Friedman on X, Daily Faceoff, NHL.com, Pro Hockey Rumors, RotoWire and the NHL API page for Mathew Barzal.