New York Islanders at Detroit Red Wings: Mathew Barzal in COVID Protocol [Game #24]

The New York Islanders’ COVID nightmare isn’t over yet; much like the global pandemic itself, perhaps it just kind of pauses between accelerations.

On a day when multiple NHL teams are facing a growing number of cases and another game was postponed — perhaps that’s due to winter or the more transmissible Omicron variant — Mathew Barzal became the ninth Islander to enter COVID Protocol this season.

That and other topics in Barry Trotz’s post-morning skate availability, including how Barzal has been a big part of the power play’s recent signs of life:

The Isles are fortunate Barzal is the only one (as of late afternoon), but of course he’s one of their most important players, so his absence hurts. To fill in, it’s likely the recently scratched Anthony Beauvillier re-enters the lineup, though it’s possible Matt Martin does also/instead.

The Isles are in Detroit to face the Red Wings, official start at 7:30 p.m. EST. We’ll see who else is standing at that time.

For the Red Wings, the key difference from last meeting is the return of Brave Unvaccinated Hero Tyler Bertuzzi.

Keep up with other Red Wings happenings at Winging It In Motown.