Islanders Gameday News: Duclair takes time away
Lucky guy gets to take some time away from this. | Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images
Matt Martin returns to the lineup for the first time in 30 games, but that’s not a white flag. The Islanders are in action tonight — it’s true, I checked the schedule and everything — to face a Minnesota Wild team that has been ravaged by injuries but is still on track for a wild card spot. The Islanders are looking to avoid a seventh straight loss, but the damage appears to already be done by a slump that has sunk their season.
We know the Isles will have a lineup change, and that has to do with the big story of yesterday.
First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
The story: Anthony Duclair, who has never looked the same since returning from a leg injury and was torched by Patrick Roy in post-game the other night, is taking a leave of absence. [Elmonters | Post | Newsday | CBS]
Or as the official site puts it: “Matt Martin to return to the lineup” after 30 consecutive healthy scratches. [Isles]
Elsewhere
Thursday night’s scores included some relevant finals:
Wild card “chase”: The Canadiens and Senators won in regulation, Blue Jackets lost
Tank/lottery spiral: The Penguins lost but got a regulation point for taking the Blues to overtime (where St. Louis tied a franchise record 11-game win streak).
Damn, Cale Makar is just the second defenseman this century (Mike Green) and ninth all-time to reach 30 goals in a season. [Sportsnet]
Jamie Benn’s iron-ish man streak ends at 371. [TSN]
I guess it’s news that Craig Button thinks Jalen Chatfield should be suspended for throwing down in a fight? No one seems to acknowledge the absurdity of trying to instill rules of engagement in a combat fight-or-flight situation where one errant (or perfect!) punch can end a guy’s career. [TSN]
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