Islanders Practice: Holmstrom a Full Participant, Pelech Skating On His Own

EAST MEADOW, NY– After two days off, the New York Islanders were back on the practice rink Monday morning.

And with that, Mathew Barzal was on the ice after missing Friday night’s contest with a lower-body injury.

In the 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Barzal did take a hard hit behind the Oilers net, and it took him a few seconds to get up before he got back in the play and remained in the game.

Also, Simon Holmstrom took part in the team skate for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 23. He had missed the last six games.

#Isles Simon Holmstrom: pic.twitter.com/ifFE2RMwq8

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) January 9, 2023

Holmstrom seemed to suffer a significant knee injury, but he lucked out.

Late in the second period of that game against the Florida Panthers, forward Sam Bennett took out Holmstrom’s knee on a disastrous hit, which forced the 21-year-old to miss the remainder of the contest.

The Islanders placed Holmstrom on Injured Reserve retroactive to the date of injury. He had been skating on his own for a few days, and it’s miraculous that he avoided a serious knee injury.

“I thought he looked good,” New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. “He’s been skating and today was a day when we could integrate him into the group and see where he went from there.”

“And I thought he looked good.”

Here were the Islanders forward lines at practice, as it seems Holmstrom is ready to return:

Anders Lee-Mathew Barzal-Simon Holmstrom
Anthony Beauvillier-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Ilya Sorokin was in the starter’s crease so take that as you may.

Forwards Aatu Räty, Kyle Palmieri (IR), and Ross Johnston were in grey, serving as the extras at practice.

Here’s the power-play lines (net front-slot-RW-LW-point):

PP1: Lee-Pageau-Barzal-Nelson-Dobson

PP2: Parise-Beauvillier-Bailey-Pulock-Aho

Following practice, head coach Lane Lambert provided the following updates:

Adam Pelech has been the glue that has held this team together, and they are in desperate need for him to return. He has missed the Islanders last 14 games.

The New York Islanders kick off a five-game homestand Tuesday night as they host the Dallas Stars at 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.