The New York Islanders saw some positive news on the injury front, as Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair and Adam Pelech took steps forward in their return to action.
Barzal participanted in his first skate with the team since Oct. 30 in Columbus. Barzal missed 20 games after he suffered a upper-body injury. Barzal has five points (2G, 3A) in 10 games this season.
Duclair skated without a non-contact jersey the first time on Tuesday after skating in an orange jersey in his previous session. Duclair missed 25 games since he suffered an injury on Oct. 19 in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Bo Horvat skated on a line with Barzal and Duclair during training camp and to start the season and the trio found quick chemistry. Horvat said he's glad to see the wingers make progress in their return to action.
"Obviously, you're all excited before the season starts," Horvat said. "You have a good preseason, and then all of a sudden, that kind of stuff happens. It's never easy, but other guys have stepped up, and filled that void and have kept us in it so far. It's up to us now when these guys come back to take our game to the next level, because we're going to need it down the stretch."
Pelech, who took the ice for the fourth straight session with the team, also skated in a regular practice jersey. Pelech was sidelined for 19 games since he sustained a lower-body injury on Nov. 1 in Buffalo. Though a timeline for their respective returns is unknown, having the three back on the ice brings positive energy.
"It's [exciting] for everybody," Head Coach Patrick Roy said. "It just tells you that they're getting closer and closer to get back in the lineup. It's funny sometimes when those injuries happen, you feel like they'll never come back. But now they're close to coming back as I think it's a good feeling for everybody."
Scott Mayfield, who missed Tuesday's contest against the Los Angeles Kings with an illness, will slot back into the lineup on Thursday and skated on a pair with Isaiah George during morning skate.
Anders Lee (illness) missed Thursday's morning skate and is considered a game-time decision against the Chicago Blackhawks, per Roy.
