John Tavares put a scare through Islanders country when the captain went into the boards hard in Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over the Predators. But after the captain took Wednesday’s practice off to rest and receive treatment, he returned to the Coliseum ice Thursday morning and will be in the lineup later against the Kings.
“I’m ready to get going,” Tavares said. “It’s been a little sore, but I had the day off, take care of it, good maintenance, stay on the top of it. So I feel good to play and feel I can contribute and play at the level I need to play at.”
Tavares said he lost a skate edge on the play and decided to turn and go into the boards hip-first rather than feet first – the latter scenario being one that often leads to worse injuries. He said the doctors checked him out thoroughly and there is no muscular or structural damage, just bruises. That pain might linger, but it won’t keep No. 91 off the ice.
“Just pain,” he said.
Winger Thomas Vanek will miss his third straight game with what the team is calling an upper-body injury. He took extra work at Thursday’s morning skate, and is eyeing a return for Saturday’s home match against the Red Wings.
“Each day is progressing, and that’s the positive,” Vanek said. “Obviously, it’s frustrating to watch the games, but it’s part of the game and trying to get better every day.”
Vanek said the injury occurred on his first shift in last Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets in Columbus, when he made a quick movement and “just pulled something.” He played just 23 seconds in that game, and hasn’t played since. Thursday morning was the second day in a row he skated with the team.
Although he wouldn’t disclose what the ‘something’ was, he said it’s just a matter of time and healing for him to get back in the lineup.
“Each and every day it’s just rehabbing it, exercising it,” Vanek said. “Once it gets to a point where it’s just pain tolerance, then I’ll be back.
“You have to be smart about it,” he continued. “Even though it’s frustrating, you want to be a part of it. There are a lot of games left, and you don’t want to be stupid about it, really. Try it and then prolong the healing process.
“Each day is a target. Yesterday, I thought it was going to get better overnight, and it did. But it’s not quite there. So I’ll push hard for Saturday.”
Kevin Poulin will get his third straight start in nets, and his fifth start in the past seven games, after playing just two of the team’s first 13. Poulin gave up one goal on 33 shots against Nashville last time out.
The decision to go with Poulin over regular starter Evgeni Nabokov was explained by coach Jack Capuano thusly:
“Just talking it over with our coaches and goalie coach, just the competitiveness, the aggressiveness, the way he’s playing. We talked about it at the beginning of the year. Nabby has played well, Kevin is just in a position right now where the last few starts he’s looked pretty good and we’re going to ride him.”
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The rest of the lineup remained the same, as well, meaning defenseman Radek Martinek and forward Eric Boulton will be healthy scratches. Rookie blueliner Aaron Ness will dress for his fifth straight game, and rookie forward Brock Nelson will start in Vanek’s place on the top line with Tavares.