Islanders' Visnovsky making progress toward return
Lubomir Visnovsky skates during a game against the Edmonton Oilers at Nassau Coliseum. (Oct. 17, 2013) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Lubomir Visnovsky took another step toward a return to action this past week, getting back on the ice for solo skates after being out since Oct. 20 with a concussion.
Now he's ready for another step. He will rejoin his teammates for practice Sunday, having passed his most recent neurological exam after skating all week.
Visnovsky will be in a no-contact sweater, so there still are two more hurdles to get over before he can play for the Islanders. He needs to be cleared for contact and get his conditioning up to par.
So it still might be another two weeks before he will be considered for a game, right up to the final week before the Olympic break.
Hamonic still restingThe concussion news for another important Islanders defenseman is not as positive. Travis Hamonic, out since Sunday with a suspected concussion, still is feeling symptoms, according to a source, and the Islanders must wait until he is symptom-free to start the clock toward a return.
Hamonic left Sunday's 4-2 win over the Stars after the second period with what was thought to be flu symptoms, but the diagnosis became clearer the next day. The team is calling Hamonic's injury "upper body,'' but the Islanders apparently are following concussion protocol and letting Hamonic rest until he reports his symptoms are gone.
Nabby not quite ready
Evgeni Nabokov (quadriceps strain) has been on the ice for much of the past week on the road, slowly getting back from the injury he suffered Jan. 6. But the goaltender is not quite ready to come off injured reserve with consecutive games Monday against the Flyers and Tuesday at the Rangers.
