Pierre Engvall back in Islanders lineup vs. Avalanche after being a healthy scratch
Pierre Engvall of the Islanders skates against the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Elmont. Credit: Jim McIsaac
DENVER — Maybe Pierre Engvall’s one-game benching as a healthy scratch did have the result coach Lane Lambert intended.
Engvall snapped a 10-game point drought with the opening goal in the Islanders’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday night at Ball Arena.
“It felt pretty good,” said Engvall, who split the difference and beat goalie Alexandar Georgiev through his pads at the crease at 5:39 of the first period. “I felt like my legs were going and that we played a pretty good game.”
Engvall, in the first season of a seven-year, $21 million deal, was back in the lineup after Lambert sat him for Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Penguins to open this four-game trip.
“You don’t come out of the lineup unless, potentially, you need a fire lit,” Lambert said before the game, citing Engvall’s need to use his speed to push the puck in a “northerly” direction.
After Engvall had two shots in 14:29, Lambert said: “Good. I thought he skated. I thought he competed. I thought he was better. He has to do that consistently.”
Engvall’s return forced Matt Martin from the lineup after he played the previous two games, his first action since Nov. 15. Hudson Fasching returned to the fourth line after being elevated to fill Engvall’s spot against the Penguins.
Isles files
Right wing Mathew Barzal did not play the final 4:28 of regulation with the game tied 4-4<MK0>. Barzal’s second-period assist gave him 399 career points ... Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, with a goal and two assists, stretched his home point streak to 20 games .... Defenseman Adam Pelech (long-term injured reserve, upper body) participated in his second straight morning skate ... Defenseman Sebastian Aho was a healthy scratch for the first time this season, though he missed eight games from Nov. 25-Dec. 11 with an upper-body injury ... Right wing Oliver Wahlstrom remained a healthy scratch.
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.
