Isles Day to Day: Barzal Out Indefinitely with Lower-Body Injury

Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, the New York Islanders announced on Monday morning.
Barzal left Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in the first period after a collision with Craig Smith and did not return. The team is planning on the injury being week to week and not declaring it season ending.
"It's clearly a big hole for us in certain areas," Head Coach Lane Lambert said. "It means other guys have to step up to the plate and create some abilities to contribute and make up for what we're missing with him."

The Coquitlam, BC, native leads the Islanders with 37 assists this season. Barzal has 51 points in 58 games overall. Lambert said the Islanders will miss him in a variety of areas, specifically calling out the power play, which is 6-for-19 since the all-star break.
"He's a big piece of that power play and he's a big piece in bringing the puck into the zone," Lambert said. "I talked over and over again about our zone entries being good. So we're going to have to find a way to manage that."

With Barzal out, the Islanders
recalled Arnaud Durandeau on emergency basis
. Simon Holmstrom is expected to slot into Barzal's spot alongside Bo Horvat and Anders Lee. Holmstrom has four points (3G, 1A) in 31 games this season and as one goal in his last 11 games.
"We've talked recently about wanting more from him," Lambert said of Holmstrom. "This is an opportunity for him to give more."
Lee said it'll be on the Islanders to come together as a group with Barzal out, as well as Josh Bailey and JG Pageau, who are missing their second and fourth-straight games respectively.
"We've got to find a way to fill those shoes," Lee said. "It'll be a tough one to fill but we can do it. We have guys, everyone step up, take a little bit more responsibility, be good on the power play and really just try to do what we can to have a great game tonight."