When the word injuries and New York Islanders are used in the same sentence, which injury from this season comes to mind? Was it the Ryan Pulock lower-body injury that kept him away from the team and out of the lineup for 12 games? How about Brock Nelson missing nine games (upper body) or Kyle Palmieri (lower body) missing 10 games?

Well, add two more names to that list. Top-line centerman Mathew Barzal sustained an injury against the Los Angeles Kings (lower body) in the 5-2 loss, as did 44-year old defenseman Zdeno Chara (upper body).

Both left the game in the second period and did not return. It is expected that both will be unavailable for Sunday’s contest against the Anaheim Ducks.

As for the players that have missed time this season, Brock Nelson seems to be doing just fine, with 19 goals in 38 games and goals in four of his last five contests. After a slow return, Kyle Palmieri has looked more and more like himself, getting to the gritty areas as he has four goals in his last five games.

Ryan Pulock, who played in his 11th game since returning to the lineup, was asked following Saturday’s loss if he was back to 100-percent.

“Yeah, I’m mean, you know, it takes some time. But no, I feel good enough that I can contribute,” Ryan Pulock said. “I got to find a way to better in that area. And, you know, helped this team win.”

Pulock has struggled the most since returning, but his injury was also the most significant. He also plays, on average, over 20 minutes a night.

Although the Islanders have dealt with injuries this season to key pieces, the Islanders also came into the season with players fresh off off-season surgeries and/or rehabs. And although some of those players have produced, each one of them has not looked like themselves this season.

Anders Lee, Torn ACL

Anders Lee has 14 goals in 43 games played this season after suffering a torn right ACL back in mid-march of 2021. At the time, his 12 goals through 42 games led the Islanders, but the injury kept him out of the lineup for the rest of the regular season (42 games) and playoffs (19 games).

Although back and ready to go ahead of schedule, just six months after the injury, it was clear that it would take some time for Lee to get completely back to his game. Despite being second on the team in goals, his play has not been to the level we have seen over the last few seasons. He has been hesitant at times to go into the corners and in front of the net has not seemed as sharp.

Trotz, this past Tuesday, chose to separate Lee and Mathew Barzal, a duo that has been together for three years. Zach Parise, along with Kyle Palmieri, played alongside Barzal for two games and produced.

“Sometimes you forget Anders is coming back from a major knee injury,” Trotz said Thursday morning. “And I forget sometimes, and he’s worked incredibly hard to get back, but sometimes (you need) a freshness, and I just felt that Zach had that freshness with him.”

During Saturday’s loss, Trotz had Lee takes some shifts with Barzal before Barzal left the game. Although Noah Dobson got the primary assist on Lee’s goal, Barzal got the secondary assist.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Hand Surgery

After 13 points in 12 postseason games in the 2021 playoffs, Jean-Gabriel Pageau went pointless in the seven-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Something was clearly up and on June 29, Pageau underwent hand surgery.

He was 100% ready to go when training camp rolled around.

However, Pageau has not been himself this season. Yes, he leads the New York Islanders in the FO dot, winning 57.6% of his draws, a career-high if he keeps it up. He’s still shooting the puck, with 1.80 shots per game, and has three goals in his last seven games.

On the season, Pageau has eight goals and eight assists in 46 games played.

But you can tell that he either is not 100-percent or that his confidence in his shot is lacking. During the game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Pageau had a chance to let a shot go while on an odd-man rush but elected to pass the puck instead.

Pageau has forced the pass often on odd-man rushes this season and it’s hard to remember if any of them connected for a goal.

Against the Kings on Saturday, Pageau had the puck all alone in the slot but decided to pass instead.

Injuries to the hand are tough, especially in terms of feeling the puck on your stick.

Semyon Varlamov, Nagging Injury

New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov had a career season in 2020-21. He posted a .929 SV% with a 2.04 GAA and a league-leading seven shutouts in 36 games. But in the last game of the regular season against the New Jersey Devils, Varlamov tweaked something. Varlamov would make 14 of the 19 starts in the postseason, with. a .922 SV% and a 2.56 GAA.

When the Islanders were back on the ice for training camp, Semyon Varlamov was absent as he was still dealing with a nagging injury, sustained in the postseason. There was never more information than that given, as one could assume it was of the lower-body variety.

Although Varlamov traveled and practiced with the team, he did not start his first game of the season until Nov. 7, the Islanders 10th game of the season. Backed by lackluster defense and personal lackluster play, Varlamov lost his first six games and only had three wins in his first 10 contests. He also missed a few games due to COVID-19 and needed some time before getting another start.

Varlamov posted a .924 SV% with around a 2.2 GAA over his previous five games before the start against the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night, his first contest since Feb. 2. Although Varlamov only posted an .882 SV% in that game, he was the only reason the game was within reach for as long as it was.

This season, Varlamov owns a 2.22 GSAA. Last season, that number was 22.96. The defensive struggles have played a part, but not the only part given the difference in those numbers.

Matt Martin, Ankle Surgery

This past offseason, New York Islanders fourth line winger Matt Martin underwent surgery to remove a chip in his ankle. Although general manager Lou Lamoriello gave an update at training camp that Matt Martin would be ready for the start of the season, he did not get into the lineup until game three of the season vs. Chicago.

Martin told the media that the injury came in mid-March after a back-to-back against the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals when he blocked a few shots.

Throughout this season, Martin has not looked all too comfortable and it’s affected the fourth line’s ability to be the “identity” of the Islanders. He has only played in 40 of the Islanders 49 games this season, as head coach Barry Trotz has rested him due to a “minor injury” or due to the play of Ross Johnston, a healthier, younger version of the 32-year old.

Martin’s speed or lack thereof has made it hard for him to keep up with opposing forwards. He’s taken more penalties this season than he did in each of the last two seasons, with more fights playing a part in that. Martin has given the puck up more times this season than last season, in 14 fewer games while his takeaways are down.

Could the 32-year old forward’s style of hockey just be getting to him after 13 years in the NHL or does the ankle injury have a lot to do with the decline in his play?

Final Thoughts

There’s been so much that has gone wrong for the Islanders this season and it’s easy to point a finger at one certain aspect. But these injuries to three different lines and to a goaltender have made it harder for the Islanders to weather this season’s many storms and it will be interesting to see how these players finish out the season and what kind of game we see from them next season.