The Islanders have been increasingly banged up as the season has progressed, but they received some encouraging injury news Wednesday on one of their top players.
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time this season, skating in a noncontact jersey. The 29-year-old had missed all of training camp and the team's first 14 games due to inflammation in his left knee. Islanders captain Bo Horvat expressed optimism regarding Barzal's on-ice progress following the session at the team's Long Island practice facility.
Defenseman Ryan Pulock and forward Matias Maccelli also participated in noncontact jerseys before exiting prior to contact drills. Head coach Peter DeBoer indicated that while seeing the injured players skate was encouraging, their return timelines remain unchanged. The Islanders, who hold a 7-5-2 record, were preparing to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
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