EAST MEADOW, NY — For the first time since April 14, 2026, New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was back on the ice with his teammates.
The 29-year-old wore a red non-contact sweater during Wednesday’s practice as he continues to work his way back from left-knee inflammation following his previous knee injury.
Barzal, along with injured teammates Matias Maccelli (lower body) and Ryan Pulock (upper body), didn’t participate in the full practice. All three left the ice after the opening drills as the Islanders shifted their focus to systems work ahead of Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
While Barzal’s participation was limited, seeing him back on the ice with his teammates was a significant development.
It was another encouraging step in his recovery, even if there’s still no timetable for his return to the Islanders’ lineup.
And judging by the reactions from his teammates, they were thrilled to have No. 13 back out there.
Here’s the latest from head coach Pete DeBoer, along with photos and videos from Wednesday’s practice and reactions from Bo Horvat, Matthew Schaefer, Brayden Schenn, Victor Eklund, Ilya Sorokin, and Anthony Duclair: