300 thirty-seven days and one false start later, Sammy Blais will return to the ice on Monday for his first official game since sustaining a season-ending knee injury on that hit by P.K. Subban on the Garden last Nov. 14.
The 26-year-old winger had been projected for a spot within the opening-night lineup but an upper-body injury he sustained in the ultimate exhibition game on the Island necessitated hitting the pause button.
“I’m not going to misinform you, that was a tricky week for me sitting out after I’d worked so hard to be ready,” said Blais, who’s slated to make his 2022-23 debut against the Geese. “But at the identical time, I knew it was only a bump within the road. I wasn’t going to permit that to discourage me.
“I knew I needed to remain positive and that it was not going to be long. So I focused on what I needed to do. I’m very enthusiastic about this, now. I’m looking forward to it.”
Blais is stepping in for Ryan Carpenter, who suffered a gash behind his left ear when sliced by a skate midway through the second period of Friday’s 4-1 defeat in Winnipeg. The middle, who didn’t practice on Sunday, could also be ready for Thursday’s match against the Sharks.
Barclay Goodrow is shifting from the left side of the third line to play in the midst of the fourth line between Dryden Hunt and Ryan Reaves. Blais will play the correct on the third line with Filip Chytil and Jimmy Vesey. Blais has some familiarity with Chytil, having played on his line in nine of his 14 games last season.
“Fil and I do know one another. My job is create space for him and Jimmy, get in on the forecheck and supply energy for our line and the team,” Blais said. “I’m not nervous about timing or anything like that. I’m just going to go on the market and play my game.”
Head coach Gerard Gallant could empathize with Blais’ plight following the preseason injury that got here on a first-period hit from Alexander Romanov. But he was not going to rush the winger’s return.
“It was tough. He desires to play,” Gallant said. “But as coaches we talked to him and said, ‘Sammy, we’re not going to place you in in case you’re not able to play. The final thing we would like is so that you can have one other setback.’
“This was a minor setback, but I understand, it’s been 10 months and he really desires to play. I didn’t need to put him on the market too soon. He’s able to go now. He’s feeling good and robust. You make those tough decisions because as players, you mostly need to play.”
Vitali Kravtsov, who sustained an upper-body injury 7:01 into the opener after taking successful from Victor Hedman that has sidelined him within the interim, skated in a non-contact gold jersey at practice. He could possibly be ready for Thursday’s match against the Sharks but there is probably not an open lineup spot for No. 74.
Zac Jones, scratched in favor of Libor Hajek on Friday, worked on the second power-play unit. That is a sign No. 6 may return to the lineup.
Asked about Hajek’s work in 13:45 of ice time, during which he and partner Braden Schneider weren’t on for a goal either way, Gallant said: “Like the remaining of us: Just fair.
“I’m not stating Libor. I’m stating 20. I’m saying it was 20 guys, so I’m not upset in Libor any greater than I’m upset in anybody else.”
300 thirty-seven days and one false start later, Sammy Blais will return to the ice on Monday for his first official game since sustaining a season-ending knee injury on that hit by P.K. Subban on the Garden last Nov. 14.
The 26-year-old winger had been projected for a spot within the opening-night lineup but an upper-body injury he sustained in the ultimate exhibition game on the Island necessitated hitting the pause button.
“I’m not going to misinform you, that was a tricky week for me sitting out after I’d worked so hard to be ready,” said Blais, who’s slated to make his 2022-23 debut against the Geese. “But at the identical time, I knew it was only a bump within the road. I wasn’t going to permit that to discourage me.
“I knew I needed to remain positive and that it was not going to be long. So I focused on what I needed to do. I’m very enthusiastic about this, now. I’m looking forward to it.”
Blais is stepping in for Ryan Carpenter, who suffered a gash behind his left ear when sliced by a skate midway through the second period of Friday’s 4-1 defeat in Winnipeg. The middle, who didn’t practice on Sunday, could also be ready for Thursday’s match against the Sharks.
Barclay Goodrow is shifting from the left side of the third line to play in the midst of the fourth line between Dryden Hunt and Ryan Reaves. Blais will play the correct on the third line with Filip Chytil and Jimmy Vesey. Blais has some familiarity with Chytil, having played on his line in nine of his 14 games last season.
“Fil and I do know one another. My job is create space for him and Jimmy, get in on the forecheck and supply energy for our line and the team,” Blais said. “I’m not nervous about timing or anything like that. I’m just going to go on the market and play my game.”
Head coach Gerard Gallant could empathize with Blais’ plight following the preseason injury that got here on a first-period hit from Alexander Romanov. But he was not going to rush the winger’s return.
“It was tough. He desires to play,” Gallant said. “But as coaches we talked to him and said, ‘Sammy, we’re not going to place you in in case you’re not able to play. The final thing we would like is so that you can have one other setback.’
“This was a minor setback, but I understand, it’s been 10 months and he really desires to play. I didn’t need to put him on the market too soon. He’s able to go now. He’s feeling good and robust. You make those tough decisions because as players, you mostly need to play.”
Vitali Kravtsov, who sustained an upper-body injury 7:01 into the opener after taking successful from Victor Hedman that has sidelined him within the interim, skated in a non-contact gold jersey at practice. He could possibly be ready for Thursday’s match against the Sharks but there is probably not an open lineup spot for No. 74.
Zac Jones, scratched in favor of Libor Hajek on Friday, worked on the second power-play unit. That is a sign No. 6 may return to the lineup.
Asked about Hajek’s work in 13:45 of ice time, during which he and partner Braden Schneider weren’t on for a goal either way, Gallant said: “Like the remaining of us: Just fair.
“I’m not stating Libor. I’m stating 20. I’m saying it was 20 guys, so I’m not upset in Libor any greater than I’m upset in anybody else.”
