This wasn’t concussion number one, or two, or three for Lubomir Visnovsky, but number six.
So it’s not a stretch to understand the concern the Islanders defenseman had before his return to the lineup in Monday night’s 6-3 loss to the Bruins at the Coliseum, ending a three-month absence.
“It was tough for me because after two months, I [was] not ready,” Visnovsky said Monday morning, a full week of practice under his belt since starting with the team last Sunday. “I’m not a young guy, and I was very frustrated. Right now, I’m very excited I’m back. We’ll see – I hope it will be OK.”
Visnovsky, 37, was hurt way back on Oct. 19, in the first period of the eighth game of the season. Contrary to what was originally thought, Visnovsky wasn’t hurt on a hit from Hurricanes forward Radek Dvorak – a hit against the backboards after which he crumpled to the ice and left for the dressing room – but earlier in the game while his team was on the power play and forward Riley Nash got his arms up to finish a check near the blue line.
Because of his history, it didn’t take long for Visnovsky to recognize it was a concussion. His most recent one happened while he was playing for the Ducks on April 5, 2012, in the final game of the regular season against the Oilers. Before that, he said he suffered concussions, plural, while with the Kings from 2000-2008, and also one while playing for his hometown Slovakian team, Bratislava Slovan, during the full-season lockout of 2003-04.
“I know guys that have had eight, nine,” Visnovsky said, “and are still playing.”
But this one lingered longer than most, and that was especially upsetting for Visnovsky. On New Year’s Eve, he went to the University of Michigan to visit renowned concussion specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Kutcher, the same doctor that had examined the Rangers’ Marc Staal, among other NHL players. Kutcher works with the Players’ Association and will be traveling to the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, to be the neurologist for Team USA.
When Visnovsky showed up, Kutcher gave him two injections to the back of his neck, presumably as part of a line of treatment called prolotherapy, meant to avoid surgery by helping the nerves in the upper back and neck communicate better with the brain, lessen pain (including headaches) and increase mobility.
“You know, I tried everything,” Visnovsky said. “I [would] wake up with a migraine, and all day, migraine. I was frustrated. The doctor at University at Michigan helped me a lot.”
In his return, Visnovsky logged 22:08, the most of any defenseman, which included 7:23 on the power play, which might have looked better but still went 0-for-5. He only got one of his five attempted shots on net, and was rather optimistic afterwards.
“It’s not bad,” Visnovsky said. “First game, especially I tried to [be] not too long on the ice, short shifts. Because the conditioning is so-so after three and half months.”
Coach Jack Capuano desperately needs Visnovsky for his struggling man-advantage unit, as well as for his veteran leadership.
“He looked good,” Capuano said. “Probably got more minutes than we’d like, there were a lot of power plays. But he’s a veteran guy, strong skater, good mobility. For a first game back after a long time, I thought he was really good.”
Visnovsky wasn’t concerned that his return was against the big and burly Bruins – and yet with his age and history, it still was not approached with reckless abandon.
“I know Boston is a very good team, very big, strong guys, but it doesn’t matter,” he said. “The NHL is the best league, and I’m looking to play again. I’m ready and I’m excited – and of course, a bit nervous.”
Starting goalie Evgeni Nabokov was activated off injured reserve and backed up Kevin Poulin for the first 48:06, before Capuano pulled Poulin and sent Nabokov in for some work. Nabokov, 38, had missed the past 10 games with a quadriceps injury, and barring a setback, is going to start Wednesday’s Stadium Series game against the Rangers outside at Yankee Stadium.
With the puck drop set for 8:08 p.m., and the temperature being predicted between 5 and 10 degrees, Nabokov was asked whether the conditions were suitable for his first full game back.
“Yeah, well, I’m Russian too,” he joked. “So…”
Then, in all seriousness, he admitted that a little bit of work was what he needed to feel ready.
“I think I felt like I need a really good hard practice before I’m going to go in a game,” Nabokov said before Monday’s one-save performance over the final 11:44. “I’m ready to play, so that’s the bottom line. Coaches will make their call. I feel 100 percent, so I’m ready.”
No. 1 defenseman Travis Hamonic took contact at Monday’s morning skate for the first time since being concussed on Jan. 12, and he is likely to play Wednesday, barring a major change in his condition. Although Hamonic declined comment, Capuano called this “the next step for him.”
“Tests have gone well for him,” Capuano said. “He’ll get a little contact in at the end of practice [Monday], and get a little contact in [at Tuesday’s practice at Yankee Stadium], and we’ll see how he feels [Tuesday] night.”
With Visnovsky’s return, rookie defenseman Matt Donovan was sent back to AHL Bridgeport for the second time this season. Joining him was goalie Anders Nilsson, who played in just one game during Nabokov’s 10-game absence.
Matt Carkner stayed in on defense, and he almost certainly will be the one to come out for Hamonic on Wednesday.
Eric Boulton remained a scratch up front. If Capuano chose to mix things up for Wednesday, his fourth line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Colin McDonald were a combined minus-10, while Peter Regin played 9:18 and Brock Nelson played 12:09. Josh Bailey played 14:29, getting just nine shifts over the final two periods.