Barzal left Game 5 with 4:47 left in the third period after being high-sticked by Claude Giroux. Barzal did not return for overtime and is questionable for Game 6 on Thursday. Head coach Barry Troy said that his level concern about Barzal's available was "just probably moderate." Consider Barzal a game-time decision.
Barzal served as a healthy scratch for the last six games and only appeared in two games after cracking the roster out of training camp. The Islanders never really gave Barzal a chance, so he returns to Seattle, where he had 88 points (27G / 61A) in 58 games a season ago.
Barzal played 10:10 during his NHL debut on Saturday, but he will come out of the lineup in favour of Alan Quine on Sunday.
Barzal sat out of the Islanders’ season opener, but will draw into the lineup on Saturday. Barzal will centre the third line with Ryan Strome on his right wing and Anders Lee on the left. Barzal is also expected to play on the Islanders’ top power-play unit.
