New York Islanders
Mike Reilly skated before practice Saturday for the first time since undergoing a heart procedure Nov. 19.
The 31-year-old defenseman sustained a concussion in their 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 1, but further testing revealed an underlying heart issue.
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Islanders forward Brock Nelson said. “It’s a wild procedure. I mean, you’re happy that they caught it. You’re fortunate. It’s a weird situation where you get a concussion. Then it’s something that you find, but it’s probably more important that he got that. And you see him now, he looks healthy, and he can go about his day-to-day life as normal, which is kind of crazy that [the doctors] can get you in and out and then back on your way. So it’s nice to see him skating and back at it. He feels good on the ice.”
Reilly has no points in 11 games this season.
Forwards Mathew Barzal (upper body) and Anthony Duclair (lower body), and defenseman Adam Pelech (jaw) will travel on the Islanders’ upcoming two-game road trip beginning against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; CHSN, MSGSN, NHLN, SN, TVAS).
Barzal, who was injured against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 30, is a game-time decision. Pelech, who was injured against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 1, will play.
Duclair, who was injured against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 19, won’t play against Chicago but could return at Carolina on Tuesday.
Bo Horvat is day to day with a lower-body injury. The forward left a 5-4 win against the Blackhawks on Thursday at 10:11 of the third.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov, who has not skated since he made 21 saves in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 29, will not travel. Ilya Sorokin will make his eighth straight start on Sunday. — Stefen Rosner
