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Mathew Barzal making Islanders road trip with injury return on horizon
Mathew Barzal has travelled with the New York Islanders on a two-week road trip as he nears a possible return from injury, potentially in California this week. His return, alongside Matias Maccelli’s, could strengthen the team during a favourable run of fixtures and help it build credibility in the playoff race.
The Islanders are 7-6-3 and play five of their next six games away, with eight of the next nine against teams at or below .500. Ryan Pulock has also travelled but is believed to be further from returning, after skating in a non-contact jersey; his initial recovery estimate was two to four weeks. Recent losses to New Jersey and Carolina exposed the strain injuries have put on the team’s defence.
In short
- Barzal could return during the Islanders’ California trip.
- Eight of their next nine games are against teams at or below .500.
- Pulock is travelling but remains further from a return.
Explained simply
The New York Islanders are a team in the National Hockey League (NHL), North America’s top professional ice hockey league. Its regular season runs from autumn to spring, with teams trying to qualify for the playoffs, where they compete for the championship.
Mathew Barzal is one of the Islanders’ forwards, a role focused on creating and scoring goals. Injuries can leave a team short of experienced players; defence is another key role, aimed at stopping opponents from scoring. The Islanders’ results over the season help determine whether they reach the playoffs.