The New York Islanders capped off their California road trip with a convincing 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.
While the two points mattered, the biggest storyline was Mathew Barzal's return, who made his season debut months after beginning a difficult journey back from a left knee injury.
Mathew Barzal Opens Up About Islanders Return: 'Hardest Journey Of My Life'
Mathew Barzal battled through his left knee injury all season, and as he told reporters in Anaheim Saturday morning, the road back was far harder than anyone could have imagined.
Simon Holmstrom recorded his first career hat trick, the Islanders got healthier, and Pete DeBoer’s group finally started looking more like the team he envisioned.
But the road trip wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
From Barzal’s return and Holmstrom’s contract situation to injury concerns, lineup decisions, and questions surrounding the organization’s future, there’s plenty to unpack.
Let’s dive into the takeaways: