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After botching Anthony Duclair’s return from a torn groin last season, the Islanders have operated with caution surrounding him during training camp.
And while things looked to be trending toward Duclair playing his first preseason game Thursday at the Rangers, an upper-body injury threw a curveball into that plan.
Not only was Duclair out of the lineup Thursday when the Islanders scored three straight goals in the third period for a 5-4 win over the Rangers, but the winger wasn’t on the ice with the non-game group either.
The Islanders described him as day to day, while stressing that the current upper-body issue is not related to Duclair’s groin.
With three preseason games left before the Oct. 9 regular-season opener, coach Patrick Roy could only say he hopes that Duclair gets into one of them, instead of giving a definite yes.
“Right now it’s an upper-body injury, so hopefully he’ll be fine and ready to play at some time,” Roy said. “We’re not putting pressure on our guys. We want them to be healthy when they come in the lineup and we’ll go from there.”
Given that Duclair is coming off an injury and an offseason that, he admitted, did not go according to plan and was heavy on rehab, getting into some game action is especially important.
“My focus is Game 1 of the regular season and being ready for that,” Duclair said at the Islanders’ golf outing prior to the start of camp. “Gonna take all the time that’s needed during training camp, preseason, whatever it is.”
The Islanders, though, can’t be sure what to expect from Duclair, who played just five games at full strength last season and then struggled badly upon his return.
The situation finally blew up with two weeks to go in the season, when Roy ripped into his play so badly that Duclair took a personal leave for the remainder.
“I think it’ll be good for him to play some games,” Roy said. “There’s no doubt about it. But at the same time, he wants to be healthy and we respect that.”
Prospect Daylan Kuefler, who left the preseason opener with injury in the first period, has an upper-body injury.
The Islanders are waiting for the swelling to go down before declaring a time frame on his return.
David Rittich played the first two periods in net for the Islanders on Thursday, stopping 21 of 24 shots.
Marcus Hogberg saved all five shots he saw in the third.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Thursday, in a case where Kyle Palmieri and the NHLPA were among the appellees, that the city of Pittsburgh’s jock tax was unconstitutional, as nonresident athletes and entertainers were taxed while residents were not.
