Islanders Practice: Pelech Update, Clutterbuck a Full Participant & More

EAST MEADOW, NY–The New York Islanders were back on the ice Thursday as they gear up for a back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes Friday and Saturday.

The concern heading into practice was the status of New York Islanders top defenseman Adam Pelech, who left Tuesday’s game early in the third after going head-first into the boards and was not on the ice for practice.

Bortuzzo hit on Pelech pic.twitter.com/fbDqbSNF5n

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 7, 2022

Head coach Lane Lambert shared that Pelech is day-to-day with an upper-body injury but would not divulge the severity.

Based on the hit, the injury is believed to be a concussion. As for Pelech’s right leg, which bent back on the hit, Lambert said he is fine on that front.

Robin Salo, who played four games this season before losing his job to Sebastian Aho, filled in alongside Ryan Pulock. If Pelech is to miss significant time, Salo is the only suitable option.

In his few stints in an NHL lineup that, the 24-year-old has not shown he can be an everyday player yet. Salo is still getting accustomed to the North American game. Still, he has to start taking more of an advantage of his opportunities if he wants to instill confidence in the organization that he can be a part of their plans in the future.

Cal Clutterbuck (upper-body, day-to-day) was on the ice prior to the Islander skate, like he was on Tuesday. This time, he was a full participant, taking part in line rushes with Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin.

Lambert shared that Kyle Palmieri (upper-body, IR) has continued to skate on his own. He has missed the last seven games.

This is how the Islanders skated at practice:

Josh Bailey-Mat Barzal-Oliver Wahlstrom
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel-Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Robin Salo-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin was the first netminder off the ice so take that as you may. Sorokin was not particularly sharp in the 7-4 loss to the Nashville Predators back on Tuesday, as we shall see if Lambert throws him right back into the fire.

Semyon Varlamov did not start on Tuesday, despite his best performance of the season in a 3-0 shutout win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Islanders will be heading to New Jersey shortly and there is no information yet on whether they will be skating tomorrow morning before their game against the Devils. Puck drop is slated for 7 PM at the Prudential Center.