New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal sets before a face...

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal sets before a face off against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period of an NHL hockey game at UBS Arena on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

SUNRISE, Fla. — No concrete news on the injury status of top-liner Mathew Barzal and defenseman Scott Mayfield still sounded ominous for the Islanders.

Neither was in the lineup on Sunday night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in the finale of a three-game road trip.

Both players exited the Islanders’ 3-2 overtime win over the Lightning on Saturday night, hobbling to the dressing room.

Barzal, who already has missed 21 games this season with an upper-body injury, limped off at 18:40 of the third period after blocking Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh’s blast with his left leg.

Mayfield, who was limited to 41 games last season because of an ankle injury, was favoring his right leg after Luke Glendening’s check sent him sliding hard into the end wall at 15:29 of the second period.

“We’ll know more [Monday], that’s all I can say for now,” coach Patrick Roy said.

Pressed on whether Barzal and Mayfield were undergoing X-rays or MRIs, he replied, “Dr. Roy doesn’t know those questions at this moment.

“Injuries are unfortunately part of the game. I remember when I was in Colorado when we lost [Peter] Forsberg in the [2001] series against [the Kings]. It was a moment for other guys to take the lead, and it’s the same right now.”

Anthony Duclair (illness) returned to the lineup in Barzal’s spot with Bo Horvat and Anders Lee. Defenseman Dennis Cholowski filled in for Mayfield after being a healthy scratch the previous four games.

The Islanders already were missing defensemen Noah Dobson (lower body/long-term injured reserve) and Ryan Pulock (upper body/injured reserve).

“Obviously it’s tough,” said defenseman Adam Boqvist, who scored in his Islanders debut on Saturday night after being claimed off waivers from Florida the day before. “You never want to see any teammate go down.”

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