Islanders' Adam Pelech out injured after hit to head on Thursday night in Montreal
The Islanders' Adam Pelech looks away after a Jets goal during the second period of an NHL game Tuesday in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Credit: AP/FRED GREENSLADE
Adam Pelech was not available for the Islanders’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Panthers on Saturday night at UBS Arena, and it’s unclear whether the eight-day All-Star break will be enough time for the stalwart defenseman to recover from his latest injury.
Coach Patrick Roy listed Pelech as day-to-day with an upper-body injury after taking an illegal check to the head from the Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher in Thursday’s 4-3 loss in Montreal. The NHL suspended Gallagher for five games on Friday.
“Every time you lose a player like Adam, the suspension to us is no longer important,” Roy said. “We’re losing a quality player. Adam was playing so well for this team. He was one of our best defensemen. Whatever suspension Gallagher has doesn’t make us a better hockey team.”
The Islanders next play in Toronto on Feb. 5.
Gallagher drove his elbow up to the unsuspecting Pelech’s head in the neutral zone in a fly-by hit at 11:50 of the third period.
Last season, Pelech missed 21 games with a head injury in December and January.
Pelech already had missed 20 games this season after injuring his left wrist or arm in Ottawa on Nov. 24. Thursday was his ninth game back in the lineup.
Wahlstrom’s turn
Sharpshooting right wing Oliver Wahlstrom logged 10:14 in his first game under Roy after being a healthy scratch in the previous four games.
The 11th overall pick in 2018 has two goals and four assists in 23 games. Former coach Lane Lambert made him a frequent healthy scratch.
Wahlstrom sat from 3:49 to 16:23 of the second period as Roy skipped him in the rotation, but he jumped in for Jean-Gabriel Pageau to win an offensive-zone draw that set up Simon Holmstrom’s goal at 16:29.
“He played a very good game,” Roy said. “That’s what I said to him this morning when I met with him. I asked him if he was comfortable. It’s also me learning him and trusting him. It’s playoff hockey for our team. Sometimes as a coach, you just want to see a little more. It’s never easy when you haven’t played for a long period of time, but I thought he responded pretty well.”
n Isles files
Roy said left wing Hudson Fasching is day-to-day with a lower-body injury after exiting at 6:41 of the second period in Montreal as he went hard into the end wall . . . Left wing Matt Martin returned to the lineup after missing Thursday’s game in Montreal because of illness . . . . Right wing Julien Gauthier was a healthy scratch after logging only 7:59 of ice time against the Canadiens and sitting for the final 14:52 of the game . . . The Islanders marked Alumni Weekend by introducing former players dating to the 1970s. Josh Bailey, who played for the team last season and has yet to announce his retirement, received one of the loudest ovations.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
