Barzal heads home to be evaluated due to injury

Mat Barzal has left the New York Islanders' road trip and returned home due to an upper-body injury, the club announced Friday. Barzal's recovery timeline will be determined once he consults with team doctors.

The talented forward hasn't missed a game this season but won't play against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. The Islanders take on the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden before hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Barzal logged 22:46 in a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, with his last shift ending at the final horn. He came into Friday's action tied for third on the Isles in goals (two) and points (five) so far in 2024-25.

The Long Island-based squad is already missing forward Anthony Duclair, who was ruled out for four-to-six weeks due to a lower-body ailment on Oct. 24.

The Islanders (3-5-2) enter the weekend sitting second-last in the Metropolitan Division by points percentage (.400), ahead of only the Penguins. New York is last in the group in terms of total points (eight to Pittsburgh's nine), but the Isles have played two fewer games than the Pens.

Barzal led the Islanders with 80 points in 80 games last season. His 57 assists ranked second behind defenseman Noah Dobson's 60.