Pageau & Clutterbuck Both Take Part in Islanders Morning Skate

PITTSBURGH — The New York Islanders hit the ice for morning skate in Pittsburgh on Thursday, and forwards Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Cal Clutterbuck were present.

Pageau is here too. #Isles pic.twitter.com/Ta60dCmHKJ

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) March 9, 2023

Cal Clutterbuck is here. #Isles pic.twitter.com/bvVfNZFH8m

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) March 9, 2023

Despite returning to the practice sheet on Monday, the New York Islanders did not get forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau back for their game on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Pageau practiced just once since landing on Injured Reserve (retro 2/11) with an upper-body injury, so the decision not to throw him right into a game if he wasn’t 100 percent ready was completely understandable, despite what’s at stake for the Islanders at this point in the season.

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert did not have an answer as to whether or not Pageau would make the trip to Pennsylvania for the Islanders’ next game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 30-year-old has missed the last 10 games, with Bo Horvat filling his role as perfectly as possible, helping the Islanders to a 6-3-1 record during his absence.

In 56 games, Pageau has 10 goals and 19 assists, having won 56 percent of his draws. Otto Koivula, who has played in his absence, was not on the ice.

For Cal Clutterbuck, he has missed 21 games with an upper-body injury and has only played in 34 games this season due to various injuries.

His latest injury came against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 19, and he was listed as out indefinitely.

On the season, he has four goals and four assists, and since this is his first skate back, he’s likely not ready to return to game action.

More often than not, Hudson Fasching has served as the fourth-line winger in his place.

Both Pageau and Clutterbuck did not take part in line rushes. They did however rotate in on the penalty kill.

Following the skate, Lambert said that Pageau was not ready to return. Clutterbuck, the same, as that was just his first skate back with the team.

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