The New York Islanders could have goaltender Jaroslav Halak and defenseman Nick Leddy in the lineup Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, according to the Islanders website.
Halak and Leddy practiced Thursday, with coach Jack Capuano telling the website Halak is able to play.
"There's no question we miss some of those guys," Capuano said. "They are an integral part of our team. You win with goaltending and defense in this League."
Halak, who is 34-15-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average, four shutouts and a .912 save percentage in 50 games, missed the past two games because of a lower-body injury.
Capuano would not commit to Halak playing Saturday; Michal Neuvirth, who started the past two games, could play against the Devils. The Islanders returned goaltender Kevin Poulin to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.
Leddy, out since March 9 because of an upper-body injury, practiced Thursday.
"I feel pretty good," Leddy said. "We have another day before the game so we'll keep working and keep getting better. It was just a freak thing like I said. It happened. I just want to work through it and hopefully be back Saturday."
The Islanders have lost four in a row and seven of the past nine, and are five points behind the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
"They are two key parts for us," forward Brock Nelson said. "Leddy is a big part of our play in all areas and [Halak] has been a wall behind us all year. His numbers speak for themselves. We need those guys and it's good to see them back on the ice. We'll come out of this and hopefully this makes us a better group and a stronger group."
Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky and forward Mikhail Grabovski skated before practice but will not return this week, Capuano said. Visnovsky has missed two games because of a lower-body injury. Grabovski last played Feb. 19 because of an upper-body injury.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.