MacDonald set to return to lineup Thursday
Andrew MacDonald of the New York Islanders skates away from Nick Palmieri of the New Jersey Devils in the first period. (January 23, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
Defenseman Andrew MacDonald spent almost six frustrating weeks watching helplessly as his team struggled to find a win.
That stretch of inaction ends Thursday night, however, as MacDonald returns to the Islanders' lineup for the first time since he suffered a broken right hand on Oct. 21.
And while the Islanders finally found that elusive fifth win Friday that evaded them for almost the entirety of MacDonald's absence, the 24-year-old defenseman will be a welcome addition to the team's back end, a unit decimated by injuries this season.
In addition to MacDonald, the team's blue line has been hit hard with injuries to Mark Streit (shoulder), Milan Jurcina (hamstring) and Jack Hillen (concussion).
"It gives our defense a boost. He's a guy that's going to play 20-plus minutes and is really going to help us out on the power play," coach Jack Capuano said.
The latter is sorely needed given the Islanders' recent drought with the man advantage. The team is 0-for-29 on the power play over the last eight games.
MacDonald practiced Thursday with the second unit, including fellow defenseman Mark Eaton and forwards Rob Schremp, Blake Comeau, Michael Grabner and Jon Sim.
"If we can have two units that can do damage, then other teams can't just key in on one," first-unit power-play quarterback James Wisniewski said. "We can play some mismatches."
MacDonald suffered the injury after taking a shot to his right hand from Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier during the team's 3-2 win over the Lightning on Oct. 21. The Islanders' 14-game winless streak followed immediately after.
"We missed him tremendously," Wisniewski said about the void MacDonald left among the team's defensive corps.
It wasn't until Friday's 2-0 win over the Devils that the Islanders snapped their unsightly skid.
"It was tough," MacDonald said. "When you're losing, you just want to help the team so bad that it's frustrating to watch."
Capuano said he has no qualms about throwing his former Bridgeport charge right into action against the Rangers Thursday night and MacDonald can't think of a better time to return.
"The intensity's a bit more than your average game," MacDonald said. "I'm really looking forward to it."
Notes & quotes: G Rick DiPietro will make his fourth straight start Thursday night against the Rangers. Trent Hunter (knee) and Mike Mottau (eye) were placed on injured reserve, while Hillen (concussion) was activated off the list . . . . Bruno Gervais, who suffered a fractured right cheekbone during a fight Friday, practiced with a full cage attached to his helmet.
