Islanders Lose Oliver Wahlstrom to Cross-Check in 1st Period

ELMONT, NY– The New York Islanders cannot catch a break on the injury front.

With four players already on Injured Reserve in Adam Pelech, Cal Clutterbuck, Kyle Palmieri, and Semyon Varlamov, and one likley on their way in Simon Holmstrom, you can add forward Oliver Wahlstrom to the group of battered Islanders.

Before his first shift could come to a close, Wahlstrom laid a big hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the right corner of the Penguins zone.

Huge hit by Oliver Wahlstrom, although he might have taken the worst of it pic.twitter.com/3n9ZUuPtqS

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 28, 2022

But that’s not where Wahlstrom suffered his injury.

What is not shown on the broadcast is that Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph went at Wahlstrom to stand up for his teammate. While Wahlstrom was down, Joseph hit him, and Wahlstrom’s head went right into the boards.

The 22-year-old forward stayed down for a few seconds before he skated right to the bench and eventually made his way down the tunnel.

He did not return in the first period as he likely was forced into concussion protocol.

New York Islanders rookie Aatu Räty took Wahlstrom’s spot on the second power-play unit while head coach Lane Lambert rotated forwards in his spot at five-on-five.

This story will be updated during and following the game.