CHICAGO — On Sunday, the New York Islanders welcomed back Mathew Barzal and Adam Pelech to their roster following absences due to upper-body injuries. Barzal had not participated in any games since October 30, missing a total of 21 matches, while Pelech had sat out since sustaining a puck injury to his face on November 1 in Buffalo.
Barzal, who is 27 years old, had been on long-term injured reserve, while 30-year-old Pelech was placed on injured reserve. In their return, Barzal logged nearly 21 minutes of ice time during a 5-3 defeat against the Chicago Blackhawks, whereas Pelech tallied 19:47.
The Islanders, currently standing at 12 wins, 13 losses, and 7 overtime losses, have been significantly impacted by injuries this season. Just the day before, they placed goaltender Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve; Varlamov has been sidelined since November 29 due to a lower-body issue. Additionally, they promoted forward Pierre Engvall from the minors in response.
Despite the return of Barzal and Pelech, the team was still missing forwards Anthony Duclair and Bo Horvat, who rested due to their own lower-body troubles. Horvat, who netted a goal during Thursday night’s game against the Blackhawks, is currently considered day to day. He has achieved eight goals and 14 assists across 31 games so far this season.
Islander coach Patrick Roy noted the importance of bringing Barzal back while dealing with Horvat’s absence, stating, “You just can’t wait to be fully healthy, but at the same time, every team goes through those situations here and there.”
Duclair, 29, has seen action in only five games this season before being designated to long-term injured reserve, but he hopes to make a comeback by Tuesday night against Carolina. Another player missing from the lineup is veteran defenseman Mike Reilly, who is recovering from a concussion sustained in the same game as Pelech and has since undergone a heart procedure related to a preexisting condition identified during his recovery.
As the Islanders have enjoyed a bit of success lately, winning three out of their last four games, the return of Barzal and Pelech could prove pivotal. This season, Barzal has recorded two goals and three assists in 11 appearances during the second year of his eight-year, $73.2 million contract. In the previous season, he attained a career-high of 23 goals and 57 assists over 80 games.
Barzal expressed gratitude towards the medical staff and reassured that he was not overly concerned about lingering effects from his injury. “Fortunately, I was able to work out, keep my legs in shape,” he remarked. “The biggest thing is just the mental battle, just not being around the boys much, not being on the road, not being in the fight with the boys.”
Pelech, still seeking his first goal of the season, has notched four assists in 12 games. He appreciated having other teammates alongside him during the recovery process. “It’s not good that we have so many guys hurt, but when you’re hurt, it’s nice to have guys to work out, to skate with, and just like the camaraderie. It still makes you feel like you’re a part of the team, so that was nice,” he mentioned.
