TORONTO — The Islanders have been down Simon Holmstrom on Tuesday afternoon of their closing recreation of 2024, with the Swedish ahead having suffered an upper-body harm two days prior in Pittsburgh.
Holmstrom missed the final 8:46 of the 3-2 loss to the Penguins and was described by coach Patrick Roy as day-to-day with an upper-body harm.
Pierre Engvall drew again into the lineup in opposition to Toronto after 4 straight wholesome scratches, taking part in on the fourth line with Kyle MacLean and Hudson Fasching. Casey Cizikas moved as much as what would have been Holmstrom’s spot on a line with Bo Horvat and Anthony Duclair.
This was the primary recreation Holmstrom has missed attributable to harm within the NHL, and it got here at a less-than-ideal time, with the Islanders desperately needing to start stacking wins to keep away from their playoff possibilities slipping away.
Holmstrom has been one of many vibrant spots in a typically dreary season for the Islanders, already simply three factors behind the 25 he had final season by half as many video games.
The consistency that was lacking throughout his first two years within the league, notably on the offensive aspect of the sport, has began to shine by, with Holmstrom taking part in a extra assertive recreation and looking out extra keen to shoot the puck.
The Islanders have already handled accidents to star forwards Duclair and Mat Barzal this season — each missed prolonged time earlier than getting again only a couple weeks in the past.
One other harm so quickly after lastly getting wholesome is the other of what they wanted.
