![\"Mathew](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mathew-barzal-13-new-york-114390210.jpg\")
Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against Jonathan Aspirot #45 of the Boston Bruins during the second period on Oct. 28, 2025. NHLI via Getty Images<\/p>\nRALEIGH, N.C. \u2014 The Islanders laid down a gauntlet on Thursday morning, making Mat Barzal a healthy scratch against the Hurricanes as punishment for being late to the rink.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the culture of our team,\u201d coach Patrick Roy said. \u201cAnd we made the decision not to play him tonight. And Barzy\u2019s not happy, he doesn\u2019t feel good about it. He respects the decision, he understands it. He was really good about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike I said to him, it happened to me when I was in Colorado. Different way, but [I] missed a practice, missed two games. That\u2019s the culture of our team, we believe in it. But he\u2019s good about it. He\u2019s very good about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck against Jonathan Aspirot #45 of the Boston Bruins during the second period on Oct. 28, 2025. NHLI via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Barzal will be back in the lineup on Friday against the Capitals with a clean slate, Roy said.\u00a0The Islanders\u2019 handling of the situation mirrored the Tampa Bay Lightning \u2014 for whom general manager Mathieu Darche previously worked \u2014 healthy-scratched star center Brayden Point last season after he missed a team meeting.<\/p>\n
Roy seemed to indicate the decision was Darche\u2019s on Thursday when asked whether he was holding the team to his standard.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn the ice from Long Island\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s not my standard,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the organization\u2019s standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though the Islanders have not made public any other incidents with Barzal\u2019s tardiness, he was absent from a morning skate last Thursday before a win over the Red Wings. <\/p>\n
The Isles said at the time that Barzal missed the skate with \u201cload management\u201d relating to his surgically-repaired knee, but that is the only time the team has used such language \u2014 \u201cload management\u201d is common practice for star players in the NBA, but almost unheard of in the NHL \u2014 regarding Barzal, or any other player for that matter.<\/p>\n
Judging by Barzal\u2019s start to the season, there has been little indication he is still dealing with the aftereffects of the kneecap injury that ended his 2024-25 season. He has eight points in nine games and has looked like his usual self.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20251021_bjp_ae5_044.jpg\")
New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at UBS Arena. Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Despite it being anticipated and reported by Sportsnet\u2019s Elliotte Friedman that Cal Ritchie would be called up to replace Barzal in the lineup, the Islanders ended up dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen.<\/p>\n