It was a pretty big day for the New York Islanders on Thursday as not only was Ryan Pulock back on the ice with his teammates for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury back on Nov. 15, but also Kyle Palmieri’s activation out of IR and in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 16.
Islanders head coach Barry Trotz spoke on Thursday morning prior to the contest against the Los Angeles Kings about being an impact player for the Islanders.
“(He) wasn’t getting a lot of production, you know at the start of the year, and he wasn’t the only one,” Trotz said Thursday morning. “we had a number of guys that weren’t but I think with the position we have him in and the impact he can make, there’s another level of his game.”
“And I know Palms when he gets an opportunity to get back in here, he will try to make an impact.
But was Palmieri an impact player in his first game back?
The answer is no but how high were the expectations for a player, 30-years of age, who skated in his first game in over 40 days?
Palmieri finished the contest with two shots on goal, a hit, in 13:12 TOI.
While no. 21 was on the ice (5 on 5), the Islanders outshot their opponents 8-7, with chances going back and forth. He was on the ice for the Kings late tally in the second period, as he forechecked hard to force defenseman Drew Doughty to get rid of the puck quickly.
