Isles' Scott Mayfield back in lineup, Adam Pelech trending in right direction
Scott Mayfield of the Islanders skates against the Hurricanes during the second period at UBS Arena on Nov. 4. Credit: Jim McIsaac
PITTSBURGH — Scott Mayfield was back in the Islanders’ lineup for Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena and Adam Pelech made a significant step toward his eventual return.
The defense corps finally is getting healthier.
“A little bit of time off, so it takes a second to get used to it,” Mayfield said after being activated off injured reserve from an upper-body injury and logging 17:23 with one shot, two hits and one blocked shot. “But I felt pretty good once I got my legs going.”
Mayfield missed eight games after a lower-body injury also sidelined him for seven games from Oct. 17-30.
“I think the time off actually gave the lower-body injury some time to heal, too,” Mayfield said. “Because I don’t think I’ve felt 100% since Game 1.”
“He didn’t show any signs of rust for me,” coach Lane Lambert said. “I thought he was physical. I thought he was good on the penalty kill.”
Pelech (long-term injured reserve/upper body) participated in the morning skate, marking his first time on ice with his teammates since Nov. 24. Ryan Pulock (LTIR/lower body) has not resumed skating.
Mayfield’s return made fellow righthander Robert Bortuzzo a healthy scratch.
Engvall out
Second-line left wing Pierre Engvall was a healthy scratch after going 10 games without a point. Lambert elevated Hudson Fasching from the fourth line and kept Matt Martin in the lineup.
“If you’re the guy who gets scratched, you have to come in and play better next game,” Lambert said. “That’s the joy of having internal competition.”
Isles files
Semyon Varlamov backed up Ilya Sorokin after missing Friday’s game for maintenance . . . The Islanders were 25-for-65 (38%) on faceoffs . . . Martin fought defenseman John Ludvig off the opening faceoff . . . Right wing Oliver Wahlstrom remained a healthy scratch.
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.
More Islanders
