TORONTO — Eight weeks later, the most important piece nonetheless lacking from the Islanders’ puzzle lastly clicked again into place.
Anthony Duclair made his long-awaited return to the Isles lineup Saturday in Toronto, selecting up an help because the Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs, 6-3.
The victory marked the group’s first recreation with a wholesome ahead group since Duclair’s Oct. 19 harm.
It got here not a second too quickly, because the Islanders put collectively considered one of their most full efforts of the season, which didn’t really feel like a coincidence as they lastly fielded a whole lineup.
“Felt good. Obviously tough to come back after nine weeks, but I felt pretty good overall,” Duclair informed The Put up after skating 15:14 on a line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. “New linemates, trying to find the chemistry early. I think we had a good first period. Everyone was moving well. Definitely nice to come back and get a win for sure.”
With Mike Reilly (coronary heart) and Semyon Varlamov (decrease physique) nonetheless out, the Islanders aren’t but one hundred pc wholesome, however after two months within the wilderness, this counted as shut sufficient.
It’s suspected that Duclair’s harm — formally a lower-body harm — was to his groin.
He was medically cleared final week however mentioned pregame he wished to get in additional apply time earlier than coming again in.
“Once I fell, I knew something was wrong,” Duclair mentioned of his harm. “One thing I’d by no means felt earlier than. Proper after I obtained into the locker room — I couldn’t skate off by myself — I knew one thing was happening. Clearly, didn’t know the timeline. After I obtained the information, it was devastating.
“Only played five games and the season just started. Felt like I was starting to play well, starting to build chemistry, gain confidence, and something like that happens. It’s out of my control. I’m just happy to be back.”
Now he’s again, and the Islanders lastly have the lineup they envisioned months in the past.
“He was quick on those loose pucks,” coach Patrick Roy mentioned of Duclair. “I thought he was very helpful to Nelson’s line. And I think the more they’re gonna play together, the more comfortable they’re gonna feel.”
Isaiah George got here again into the lineup on the third pair with Scott Mayfield after sitting the previous two video games and scored his first NHL objective.
Dennis Cholowski was made a wholesome scratch.
Although Roy left the door open to beginning Marcus Hogberg in some unspecified time in the future, Ilya Sorokin was in nets for a tenth straight recreation, making 26 saves.
Pierre Engvall was a lineup casualty of Duclair returning, being made a wholesome scratch towards his previous group, the Maple Leafs.
