Islanders will face lineup switch up dilemma upon Mathew Barzal return

SEATTLE — The question of when Mat Barzal will return from an upper-body injury is still open for now.The question of who he will play with upon doing so might be, as well.That is because the reconstituted top line with Bo Horvat centering Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau has produced some real results — enough that the Islanders could at least consider keeping the trio together longer term.It would mean breaking up the Horvat-Barzal combo that has been ubiquitous since Horvat was traded to the Islanders at the 2023 All-Star break, but recall Barzal was off to a slow start before getting hurt with just five points in 10 games.

Coach Patrick Roy, at least, did not treat a return to the opening-night lines as an automatic when asked after Friday’s practice at Climate Pledge Arena.“It’s a very good question,” he said, which meant that there would be no answer forthcoming.Per Evolving Hockey’s numbers, which are adjusted for score and venue, the Lee-Horvat-Pageau trio has accounted for a 56.23 percent shot share and 52.4 percent expected goals share while outscoring theopposition, 6-3.The opening-night trio of Barzal, Horvat and Anthony Duclair only played five games together before Duclair went down with a suspected groin injury, with Barzal soon to follow, and put up strong possession numbers — 51.81 percent shot share and 64.73 percent expected goals share — while generally struggling to put the puck in the net.Horvat, who has produced seven points in six games since Barzal got hurt, has appeared to find some benefit in playing with Lee and Pageau, who he described Friday as predictable teammates.“I think that’s the best word for it.Obviously, Barzy likes to have the puck and cut back, kinda control the play that way,” Horvat told The Post.

“Just playing that give-and-go game, finding each other down low and keeping it simple.Pager’s gonna cover me if I’m not down low.

We’re just gonna kinda go up and down the wings and keep our g...