Injured Travis Hamonic back on LI for rest
Travis Hamonic talks to reporters as Islanders clean out their lockers. (April 9, 2012) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Travis Hamonic returned to Long Island on Wednesday for further evaluation of what the team is calling an upper- body injury. Hamonic is believed to be suffering from a concussion that forced him to leave the Islanders' 4-2 win in Dallas on Sunday and will keep him out through the end of this week.
The Islanders did not put Hamonic on injured reserve as of Thursday, waiting to see how he responds to rest at home through the weekend. Radek Martinek, who had been on IR since Nov. 29, was activated and took Ryan Strome's roster spot. Martinek played Thursday night for the first time since Nov. 29 in Detroit.
With the Isles returning to the New York area after tomorrow's game with the Flyers in Philadelphia, there's no rush to call up another defenseman from Bridgeport, but if they did, it most likely would be Aaron Ness.
Hamonic initially was thought to be suffering from flu symptoms when he left Sunday's game after two periods.
Recalling 'dirty' play
John Tavares was upset after the last meeting between the Islanders and the Lightning on Dec. 17 at Nassau Coliseum. And not only because the Islanders blew a 2-0 lead with 2:53 left and ended up losing in a shootout.
Tavares was taken awkwardly into the boards by Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas in the third period, a play Tavares called "---- dirty" after the game. Tavares ended up missing the Dec. 28 game against the Devils as a result of the nagging injury he suffered.
Jack Capuano decided not to dress either of his top enforcers, Eric Boulton or Matt Carkner, Thursday night to try to get Gudas to answer for the play.
