When will Mat Barzal return? Injury updates, return date for Islanders center

Bryan Murphy

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When will Mat Barzal return? Injury updates, return date for Islanders center image

The Islanders are getting one of their top players back just in time for the playoffs. 

Center Mat Barzal missed the last two months of the regular season. . He was injured during the team's contest against the Bruins on Feb. 18.

New York was in a dogfight for one of the last playoff spots, but managed to grab the top wild-card spot in the East. It sets up a first-round matchup with the Hurricanes. 

MORE: When is the 2023 NHL trade deadline?

The Sporting News has all the injury updates on Barzal and when he could potentially return. 

When will Mat Barzal return?

Barzal said on April 14 that the plan is for him to be available for Game 1 on April 17 against the Hurricanes. 

Barzal only began skating on April 4, doing a workout on his own with members of the Islanders coaching staff. 

Barzal did skate today, but he's not with the team for regular practice, which probably means he's a long shot for any of these four final regular season games.

Romanov also not practicing today.

— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) April 4, 2023

He recently began skating with the team as a full participant, a great sign for a return at the beginning of the playoffs. 

What is Mat Barzal's injury?

The Islanders stated that Barzal is dealing with a lower-body injury. 

During New York's game against Boston on Saturday, Feb. 18, Barzal took a hit from Bruins forward Craig Smith in the first period. It appeared that Smith collided with Barzal as he was in a slightly awkward position. 

Barzal left the game and did not return. It is unclear if the injury is to Barzal's leg or ankle. 

Mat Barzal stats 2022-23

Barzal has been producing at just under a point-per-game rate this season. He has 51 points in 58 games. 

Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson are the only two on the team that have more points than Barzal. His 37 assists rank first on the club, as do his 15 power-play assists. 

Games Goals Assists Points +/-
58 14 37 51 5

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.