EXCLUSIVE: Tony DeAngelo Opens Up On Missing Crucial Games Amid Islanders Slide; Mathew Barzal On His Importance
Tony DeAngelo opens up on missing crucial games as the Islanders slide, detailing defensive struggles, urgency, and buy-in under Pete DeBoer, while Mathew Barzal explains why the blueliner is such a k
EAST MEADOW, NY — There’s nothing more frustrating than being unable to help your team when it matters most.
That’s the reality Tony DeAngelo has faced over the last stretch.
The 30-year-old has missed the last six games—seven, really—due to a lower-body injury. While the New York Islanders managed to win the first two games without him, they’ve since dropped four straight, with their defensive structure unraveling at the worst possible time—and their playoff hopes taking a significant hit.
DeAngelo is a game-time decision against the Toronto Maple Leafs, per new head coach Pete DeBoer.
I caught up with the veteran blueliner following Tuesday’s skate: