There was mixed news on two of the Islanders’ top players at Monday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
Leading scorer Bo Horvat, who has missed four games with a lower-body injury, resumed skating with his teammates, albeit in a red, non-contact jersey. That’s likely not a good sign for Horvat returning to the lineup Tuesday night against the Devils at UBS Arena, the Islanders’ last game before the NHL’s three-day holiday break.
Meanwhile, the Islanders announced No. 1 goalie Ilya Sorokin would be shut down through the holiday break with what the team announced was a, “small, nagging issue.”
“The team is taking advantage of the holiday break to rest (Sorokin],” the Islanders announced. “He is expected back after the holiday break.”
The Islanders face the Rangers on Saturday night at UBS Arena before starting a two-game road trip on Sunday against the Blue Jackets.
Goalie Marcus Hogberg was brought up from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Monday on emergency recall with an NHL roster freeze in effect through the end of the holiday break.
Hogberg participated in Monday’s practice but David Rittich, who made 30 saves in Saturday’s shootout loss in Buffalo, will start against the Devils.
Horvat skated before Monday’s session before remaining on the ice with his teammates for the full practice. However, Horvat did not participate in line rushes or work with a power-play unit.
Horvat, who leads the Islanders with 19 goals and 31 points in 32 games, was injured in a 5-2 win over the Ducks on Dec. 11 when his left ankle bent awkwardly as he fell in the second period after getting his right skate caught with Drew Helleson.
“It’s the best out of a tough situation,” Horvat said after practice. “When it first happened, I was pretty scared, pretty worried. But it’s been healing pretty quick. I’m feeling pretty good out there. It’s getting better day by day and just trying to get back as soon as possible.”
Horvat added he hoped that would be against the Rangers, though he did not want to put a definitive timeline on his return.
But Horvat said his fears about having suffered a major injury were alleviated almost immediately after he was examined by the team’s medical staff.
“I went down the tunnel and basically ran in there and said, ‘Check everything. Make sure everything’s OK,’” Horvat said. “They were confident that it wasn’t anything too serious. It kind of put my mind at ease. Right when it happens, you have no idea. You just feel pain and you’re trying to get off [the ice] and get seen as soon as possible.”
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.