Islanders punish Mat Barzal for being late by scratching him vs. Hurricanes
NY Post
RALEIGH, N.C. — 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.
“That’s the culture of our team,” coach Patrick Roy said. “And we made the decision not to play him tonight. And Barzy’s not happy, he doesn’t feel good about it. He respects the decision, he understands it. He was really good about it.
“Like I said to him, it happened to me when I was in Colorado. Different way, but [I] missed a practice, missed two games. That’s the culture of our team, we believe in it. But he’s good about it. He’s very good about it.”
Barzal will be back in the lineup on Friday against the Capitals with a clean slate, Roy said. The Islanders have yet to announce an anticipated roster move to add a forward for Thursday’s game, but it’s expected that defenseman Marshall Warren will be sent down.
Calum Ritchie, the organization’s top forward prospect who returned from injury in Bridgeport on Wednesday night, would appear to be an option for Thursday; Marc Gatcomb and Matthew Highmore would be two others.
Barzal, who participated in morning skate as usual, was not in the dressing room afterward and reporters were not informed he would be out of the lineup until moments before Roy’s press conference started.
Elden Campbell, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the majority of his career playing with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, has died, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 57.
Shedeur Sanders has another potential challenger with the Browns.
The offseason signing of Vladislav Gavrikov became exponentially more important for the Rangers when Adam Fox was ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.
After leaving practice early on Monday to be evaluated for a lower-body injury, Adam Edstrom did not suit up Tuesday night against the Stars.
It’s not you, it’s me.
Not everyone wants to wake up in the city that never sleeps.
BOSTON — Despite no traction on a contract extension, Karl-Anthony Towns said his relationship with the Knicks front office remains strong and he hopes to continue his career with the team.
The Jets won a game on Sunday, an entertaining 27-24 victory over the Falcons on a 56-yard walk-off field goal by 41-year-old kicker Nick Folk.
Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss said he was just doing his job after a hard hit on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart sparked tension in Monday’s game at Gillette Stadium.
Dillon Brooks found himself in a familiar place Monday night — right underneath LeBron James’ skin.
Alexey Toropchenko is the latest hockey player to miss time because of a bizarre off-ice injury, after the St. Louis Blues said he is considered week to week after sustaining burns to his legs as part of a home accident. No other details were provided.
For a rebuilding Nets team, this season isn’t just about tanking for tomorrow’s lottery pick, but also developing the young players they have today.