The Islanders could have a crucial reinforcement available on Sunday when they begin the Eastern Conference Finals in Tampa Bay.
Head coach Barry Trotz told reporters that rookie forward Oliver Wahlstrom skated with the team at practice on Saturday, and is nearing an availability to return after going down with an injury in game five of New York’s first-round series with the Penguins.
“It’s still day-to-day, but getting very close to being available,” Trotz said.
Wahlstrom has been day-to-day since falling awkwardly into the boards after a collision with Pittsburgh’s Mike Matheson, and didn’t play at all in the Islanders’ series win over the Bruins last round. But the 20-year-old was an asset for Trotz in the first round, tallying three points on a goal and two assists before the injury took him out for the rest of the series.
Wahlstrom’s potential return could lead to some difficult decisions for Trotz, who slotted in veteran Travis Zajac after Wahlstrom’s injury, and Zajac has responded with a goal and an assist in seven games and played a big role in the team’s series-clinching win over the Penguins. With how well all four lines have performed for Trotz in Wahlstrom’s absence, the coaching staff will have to have some difficult discussions before Sunday, if Wahlstrom is ready to go by then.
“Right now, if Wally were healthy, there’s no guarantee he gets back in the lineup right away,” Trotz said. “It may be based on paly, based on what Tampa is trying to match up, and the results we get.”
It would be hard to tweak a group that has won five of its last seven games since Wahlstrom went down, but the rookie does possess valuable offensive firepower, scoring 12 goals this past season, which would help against a Lightning defense that is allowing just 2.36 goals per game this postseason, the second lowest in the playoffs among teams that have played at least 10 games.
“Right now, I’m pretty happy with our group, and Wally included,” Trotz said. “It will be a tough decision, but we’ll walk through every situation where we would use a player, how valuable they will be in those situations, and how much ice time they’ll get to do what they do.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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