Oliver Wahlstrom excited to be back on ice for Islanders
Islanders right wing Oliver Wahlstrom, left, checks Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens into the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Buffalo. Credit: AP/Jeffrey T. Barnes
BUFFALO — Oliver Wahlstrom acknowledged that it was emotional playing in his first NHL game since suffering a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 27.
Wahlstrom logged 12:16 of ice time with one shot in the Islanders’ 3-1 loss to the Sabres on Saturday night at KeyBank Center, skating on Bo Horvat’s top line with Mathew Barzal.
“It’s all about keeping my game simple until I get the lungs, the hands, the shot, the skating back, which is coming pretty fast,” Wahlstrom said.
“There were some really tough days. I’m only 23 years old and I never had anything happen to me like that before. It was super-exciting to get back in the lineup.”
Coach Lane Lambert also inserted former Ranger Julien Gauthier (one shot in 12:58) into the lineup for his Islanders debut.
“Back-to-back games, two fresh bodies,” said Lambert, who then was asked specifically about Wahlstrom’s game. “He had a couple of situations where you would call them near-misses. He had opportunities to make some plays and just missed on the pass. I thought he had a good first game, especially since it’s been such a long time.”
Not happy
The Sabres retaliated for what they felt was an unpenalized knee-to-knee hit defenseman Adam Pelech put on Jeff Skinner at 10:16 of the second period. Alex Tuch went after Pelech and received an additional minor for roughing to go with the five-minute fighting majors.
Isles files
Defenseman Scott Mayfield (lower-body injury) did not travel to Buffalo and missed his third game . . . The only other time the Islanders have lost six straight road games to the Sabres were the first six games the franchise ever played in Buffalo from Nov. 26, 1972, to Dec. 18, 1974 . . . The Sabres won 38 of 56 faceoffs (68%).
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.
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