Jean-Gabriel Pageau takes issue with Alex Ovechkin's hit

Like his Islanders teammates and coach Lane Lambert, Jean-Gabriel Pageau did not like Alex Ovechkin’s game-turning, high hit on him the last game.

But the important thing for Pageau was he cleared concussion protocol and had an assist in Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss to the NHL-best Bruins.

“I was banged up after the hit,” Pageau said. “Got back and got some tests and felt very good after. Yesterday, I felt fine. Today I felt great on the ice.”
Ovechkin crunched Pageau, who had his back turned, into the boards at 6:34 of the second period in the Capitals’ 4-3 overtime win on Monday night at UBS Arena. Ovechkin went unpenalized and a wobbly Pageau headed to the Islanders’ room before returning at 16:05 of the second period.

“I knew he was coming,” Pageau said. “I was trying to make my play and clear the puck and he finished his hit. He took a couple of strides to come in. He’s been around for a while. He knew what he was doing. I look at the replay, I don’t think I liked it.”

Varlamov's rust

Semyon Varlamov allowed two goals in each of the last two periods after Ilya Sorokin — likely to be in net Thursday night in Buffalo — started 12 of the previous 13 games following Varlamov’s groin injury.

“I thought he battled hard,” Lambert said. “He was screened on a couple of those shots. He hasn’t played much with the injury and, for a while, I thought he played well.”

Isles files

The Islanders honored Bobby Nystrom as part of their legacy series on Wednesday. “I tried to stay away from the guy,” coach Lane Lambert said, laughing. “A tough guy. A great guy.” Lambert coached Nystrom’s son, Eric, while with the Predators . . . The Islanders went 19 of 51 (37%) on faceoffs.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.