Ahead of Rangers clash, Islanders star sent home from trip due to injury

NHL: Preseason-New York Islanders at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

When the New York Rangers host the New York Islanders in a matinee at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, there’s a chance they won’t have to face their rival’s most explosive player. And that’s a big deal because the Islanders are shooting blanks right now as the lowest-scoring team in the NHL.

Ahead of their game Friday in Buffalo against the Sabres, the Islanders sent All-Star Mathew Barzal home to be evaluated by doctors for an unspecified injury. The 27-year-old forward logged 22:46 TOI in the Islanders’ most recent game, a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, so there were no evident signs of injury then.

However, Islanders coach Patrick Roy confirmed Friday that Barzal was hurt in the Blue Jackets game.

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“You don’t like to lose those guys (top players), they’re important players on your team, but, hey, this is the reality. This is the way the NHL’s been. A lot of teams are losing quality players,” Roy told reporters Friday.

Barzal, who’s twice had at least 80 points in the NHL, including 2023-24 when he had 23 goals and 57 assists, has five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 games this season. He scored the Islanders only goal in their past two games, a power-play marker in a 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

The Islanders (3-5-2) have lost three straight, are last in the Metropolitan Division and been shut out four times already this season. They’ve scored only 21 goals, one fewer than the Ducks, and their 2.10 goals-for average is worst in the League.

They are already playing without injured top-line forward Anthony Duclair, who’s out long term with a lower-body injury. The Islanders have lost four of five games since he was hurt.

Though Barzal isn’t tearing it up offensively this season, he’s a top-tier talent in this league. And the way the Islanders are going offensively, they can’t afford to lose him for any stretch of time. He led them in scoring last season and has 447 points (130 goals, 317 assists) in 510 NHL games.

Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson each lead the Islanders with four goals, and Palmieri has a team-best seven points.

Related: Rangers vs. Senators: 3 things to watch for after alarming loss

Rangers trying to get own game in order against Senators on Friday

NHL: New York Islanders at New York Rangers
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Rangers’ recent defensive play hasn’t been exactly exemplary, so playing the Islanders on Sunday might come at a good time. And the Blueshirts won’t complain if Barzal is out, because he’s been a thorn in their side for years.

However, the Islanders won’t be a pushover Sunday, either. First, there’s the pride involved with this intense New York-New York rivalry. But the Islanders also remain a solid defensive team that stays close in every game. They enter play Friday ninth in goals against (2.90 per game) and have played seven games already decided by two goals or fewer.

The Rangers have to worry about the Ottawa Senators before they focus on the Islanders. They will host the Senators on Friday after their worst game of the season, a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, when they were outshot 46-19 and dominated in terms of puck possession and scoring chances.

They’ll be aiming to clean up their own issues Friday before turning attention to the Islanders game and whether Barzal will in or out of the lineup.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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