amny
Mathew Barzal had not planned to make his season debut on Saturday night in Anaheim against the Ducks. He had targeted Tuesday's home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets instead. But after feeling good when he arrived at the rink on Saturday, he told the Islanders he was ready to play following a 18-game absence caused by a surgically repaired kneecap that began bothering him over the summer.
"Comfort level is different than being comfortable in it," Barzal said. "This was my first game adapting to a new system. There are some changes from what I'm used to. I tried to pick it up quickly. As much as [Saturday] was my first game back, it was also just a test to get a game rep in and work on my game."
He looked just fine in his return. Centering the third line in Jean-Gabriel Pageau's absence, Barzal recorded an assist in the Islanders' 6-2 win over the Ducks.
"It's hard to just jump into an NHL game. It's a good league," he continued. "I haven't had much battle. This was the first time I've really battled in the last six months. Just little touches, it comes back quick, but there's definitely some little periods to shake some rust off. But it was pretty good."
Barzal's return headlined a trio of Islanders reinforcements back in the fold. During this three-game West Coast road trip in which they took five of a possible six points, New York also got back winger Matias Maccelli and veteran defenseman Ryan Pulock.
Even with Pageau out, it was as close to a full-strength lineup as the Islanders had all season, and it offered a glimpse of just how good they can be when clicking under the new system being instituted by head coach Pete DeBoer, who is in his first full season behind the bench.
"We've started to get some people back this road trip. I think our game built as we got some of those bodies back," DeBoer said. "It's a boost of confidence for your guys, but it also starts to slot people in the right spots, it starts to give you some depth through your lineup."
The right spot for Barzal is still unknown. A natural center, he has spent much of the previous three seasons playing on the wing. DeBoer likes the 29-year-old in the middle, but he'll have plenty of opportunities to push him out wide when the chance arises.
"I just wanted to get him on the ice tonight," DeBoer said about his decision to start Barzal at center. "I still like him in the middle, but that doesn't mean we can't play him on the wing. The way we play, we're interchangeable. We'll see. I wanted to get him in the middle, regardless, because first game back, I think you take a little less contact. I wanted him to skate and use his legs and get up and down the ice."
Key Analysis
Barzal's early return provides a significant boost for the Islanders, who have struggled with injuries early in the season. His versatility as a center or winger gives DeBoer flexibility in deploying his lineup. The road trip, where New York secured five of six points, demonstrated the team's potential when healthy. With key players back, the Islanders appear poised to climb the standings under DeBoer's system.
Originally reported by amny.