Clutterbuck Returns After First Period Injury, Beauvillier Does Not

NEWARK, NJ–The New York Islanders entered their contest with the New Jersey Devils already down two players, as forward Kyle Palmieri missed his seventh-straight game while Adam Pelech missed his first. Both players are out with upper-body injuries.

New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert did provide positive news on the injury front, as Cal Clutterbuck was back in the lineup after missing the last three, also due to an upper-body injury.

But Clutterbuck’s return was shortlived, or so we thought.

The 35-year-old only made it through 1:51 minutes of ice time. We saw the same thing transpire in Philadelphia on November 29, as Clutterbuck played just 4:11 before leaving the game in a 3-1 loss.

He left the Islanders bench with 9:27 to go in the first.

Clutterbuck had been dealing with a nagging injury unrelated to last season’s shoulder injury.

But when the second period began, a bloodied Clutterbuck returned wearing a full cage.

Cal Clutterbuck: Blood dripping down his face. Full cage. #HockeyGuy pic.twitter.com/luznyyzsCl

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 10, 2022

As for what happened, hesaid he was headbutted. He did not reveal who the Devils player was, but thought it was dirty.

NYI Hockey Now asked him if it was awkard wearing the cage:

“It’s been 20 years. It took a little getting used to, but it wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t terrible. It was fine. I don’t know if I want to do it all the time. But it allowed me to stay in it and whatever.”

Clutterbuck also scored later in the contest as well.

A caged Clutterbuck makes it 6-2 #Isles pic.twitter.com/qIN46bUbYF

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) December 10, 2022

Anthony Beauvillier also left in the first period as he seemed to sustain a lower-body injury after crashing hard into the boards following a Vitek Vanecek poke-check. The 25-year-old forward tried to stay in the game, not missing a shift but left only after 3:53 minutes of ice time.

His skates last touched the ice with 8:54 to play in the first.

Beauvillier has not been dealing with any injury, to our knowledge.

New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert did not have an update following the game.