The Islanders will quickly find out how ready — or rusty — they are.
The Metropolitan Division leaders, coming off their combined, eight-day, All-Star break and bye week, face the NHL-leading Lightning on Friday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum and the Kings are at the Coliseum the next night.
“You know what? We’re ready,” said Mathew Barzal, returning from his first All-Star appearance. “We know it’s going to be a hard second half. Teams are going to start taking us for real now. But we’re excited and we’re up for it.”