Islanders' Barzal, Chara day-to-day with injuries
New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal and veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara are both day-to-day after sustaining injuries during Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, the team announced Sunday.
Barzal has a lower-body ailment, while Chara is dealing with an upper-body injury. They're unavailable for the Islanders' contest against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.
Barzal got tangled up with Kings forward Phillip Danault along the boards in Los Angeles' zone halfway through the middle frame; his ankle appeared to get caught underneath him. The 24-year-old seemed to initially have trouble putting weight on his left leg and had to be helped off the ice.
Mat Barzal was helped off the ice, returned for a shift, and went back down the tunnel during the 2nd in LA. pic.twitter.com/Vfxrs4ECR3
— Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) February 27, 2022
Barzal returned for a shift, but he left the game and didn't come back for the third period.
Chara was also missing from the Islanders' bench in the final frame. He went to the locker room shortly after hitting Kings forward Blake Lizotte midway through the second period.
Heading into Saturday's matchup, Barzal led all Islanders skaters with 36 points in 44 games. Chara, meanwhile, recently set the NHL record for games played by a defenseman.