Islanders Mat Barzal on Returning: 'It Just Lifts My Soul'
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Since New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal went down with a lower-body injury on Feb. 18 against the Boston Bruins, he had yet to return to the ice with his teammates, missing the final 23 games.
Barzal did return to the ice, skating on his own the first day or two in April, but there was no timetable on when he could play.
READ MORE: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello Provides Update on Barzal & Wahlstrom
But on the morning of Apr. 13, Mathew Barzal was back on the ice with his teammates for their first postseason practice as they gear up for their first-round battle against the Carolina Hurricanes:
The 25-year-old forward had 14 goals and 37 assists in 58 games.
"These guys have been playing playoff hockey for the last 20 games, so like I said, I'm just coming back, jumping on the train and going to help any way I can," Barzal said following Friday's practice.
It had been 54 days since Barzal skated with his teammates. But he always knew he would get back.
"We always knew that the plan was for me to come back, but when the boys are playing that well, it allows me to not rush anything, so that was huge, just having the boys winning games and playing well," Barzal said. "And it's allowed me to have a clean slate almost and just focus on getting 100 percent healthy.
"That's what I feel right now."
Barzal and Bo Horvat clicked instantly upon Horvat's arrival, but the duo only played six games together. In Barzal's absence, Horvat did struggle to produce.
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The Islanders will now be relying on this duo in the postseason.
"We had some big games before I went out," Barzal said. "We were finding it, and I felt like the chemistry was there, so, he's been playing well, he's been grinding lately, so I'm just gonna come back and again just try to try to be myself and get him the puck in the slot and get Lee pucks."
While the Islanders need Barzal back for five-on-five play, they also need him to spark the power play, which ended the season at 15.8 percent, the third-worst in the NHL.
"That's where my game stems from almost, so I'm excited to get back out there. It's been tough watching just games in general, so power plays where I like to have fun," Barzal said. "And that's definitely going to be big here in the series, special team. So going to have to be sharp."
The Islanders were in a fight for a playoff spot until the end. Barzal shared that he has felt good for a while now and maybe could have joined to play the last two to three games.
"With two games left to three games left, maybe could have tried , but boys were playing well and felt confident that we were gonna get the job done," Barzal said. "So I'm so pumped they did, and now I'm just excited to be back."
That excitement to return had him a bit anxious on Thursday night.
"I knew this day was going to come but to have it actually here and to be back with the boys and just out there, like, it just lifts my soul," Barzal said. "Like, it sucks being out and being all by myself for so long.
"These guys are on the road, and I love being on the road with the boys, and it's so mentally uplifting (to be back)."
As for getting back into the playoffs after what transpired last season:
"It's so exciting. I can't tell you how hard last year was, just not playing in those big games and those big moments," Barzal said. "And we want to be in the spotlight, and that's what the playoffs is, and we're excited."
