November 1, 2024, 11:46 AM
Things keep getting worse for the New York Islanders.
Top forward Mat Barzal has returned to Long Island with an upper-body injury, the team announced Friday.
A timeline for his absence will be determined after he meets with doctors.
The Islanders (3-5-2) are last in the Eastern Conference standings and have lost three games in a row.
Defenceman Alexander Romanov and forward Anthony Duclair also are sidelined with injuries.
Barzal, a native of Coquitlam, B.C., led the Islanders in scoring last season with 80 points (23 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games.
The three-time All-Star has two goals and three assists in 10 games this season.