Islanders’ Mathew Barzal out indefinitely with lower-body injury

Not the best news in regards to one of the top players on Long Island.

On Monday, the New York Islanders announced that forward Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely due to a lower-body injury.

In addition, the team stated that defenseman Scott Mayfield is day-to-day with a lower-body injury as well.

Barzal left the team’s game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning early, though he played over 19 minutes and posted an assist in a 3-2 overtime win. However, the 27-year-old was held out of the lineup on Sunday against the Florida Panthers, in which the Islanders ended their swing through the Sunshine State with a 6-3 defeat.

Barzal has already missed considerable time this season. After suffering an upper-body injury in late October, the former 16th-overall pick missed 21 games before returning to the lineup on Dec. 15.

Despite only playing 30 games, Barzal has still been one of the team’s key players. He’s scored six goals and 14 assists for 30 points, placing him third on the team in points per game (0.67) behind Bo Horvat and captain Anders Lee.

Mayfield also left Saturday’s game against the Lightning and was held off the lineup card on Sunday. He played just 10:03 against Tampa, his lowest on-ice total this season. The 32-year-old has appeared in 50 of the Islanders’ 52 games. He’s posted two goals and five assists for seven points, registering a plus/minus of +14 while averaging 17:33 of ice time.

Mayfield’s plus/minus is tied for second-best on the team with Horvat.

The Islanders (24-21-7) are fifth in the Metropolitan Division and four points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.