What happened: New York forward Mathew Barzal bypassed the team's full drills ahead of a matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks. He will miss his fourth consecutive game to open the regular season.

Why it matters: The playmaker has been sidelined since training camp due to left knee inflammation stemming from a previous injury. When he is ready to return, the Islanders can open a roster spot for his $9.25 million annual cap hit by moving defenseman Alexander Romanov, who is out with a torn right ACL, to injured reserve.

What to watch: Monitor New York's practice reports to see when Barzal is cleared for full-contact team activities.