New York returned to practice Wednesday. Its training facilities had been closed since Saturday, when games at the New York Rangers on Sunday and at the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday were postponed. Neither game has been rescheduled.
The Islanders had six players in protocol for a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday: forwards
Anders Lee
, Kieffer Bellows and Ross Johnston; and defensemen Adam Pelech,
Andy Greene
and Zdeno Chara. Forward
Josh Bailey
was removed from protocol Friday but did not play.
Among those players, five practiced Wednesday: Lee, Bailey, Johnston, Greene and Pelech. Bellows and Chara were removed form protocol and practiced Thursday. Forward Casey Cizikas remains in protocol.
"This is something that we were prepared that something like this might happen, and then when it does, you just kind of have to deal with it and roll with it," Lee said after practice Wednesday. "It's out of your control. We did the best we could at home and now we're ready to get back at it and we are looking forward to getting in the building tomorrow night."
The Islanders (5-10-2) had lost eight straight games by a combined score of 32-7.
"They're going to all have to play for the most part," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said Wednesday of the five players who were removed from protocol. "I think you're going to see probably four of the five. … We've gotten away from what we do well, so we're just going to try and piece our game back. ... we're getting people back. ... the first step is, let's get our game at least trending in the right way."
Bailey was the first Islanders player placed in protocol Nov. 16. He missed five games.
"It was what it was," Bailey said. "Time went by a little slow. It was tough. You want to be out there with the guys helping out and be at home ... I'm looking forward to tomorrow night. It's an exciting time"
The Islanders, who began play at UBS Arena this season, lost their first four home games. New York opened the season with 13 road games.
"We're just looking to build off day by day," Lee said. "I think there's a lot of confidence in our group in who we are and who we should be on the ice, and I think it's evident that we haven't been the same to where we want to be. ... We're looking forward to this challenge."
Pelech said the return of numerous players to the lineup could help turn things around.
"Hopefully the first group of us returning here from the COVID list, it gives us a jolt of energy and we can really bring energy and positivity and something to the group that we've been missing with all the guys out," Pelech said after practice Thursday. "We're all excited to try and do that tonight."
