Kyle MacLean was soaked in sweat, shirt sticking to his arms, and pleased as could be.
Cal Clutterbuck had told him before Monday night’s game, “You mostly rating if you’re not feeling well.”
Or no less than Clutterbuck has, including the last time the Islanders played at Prudential Center.
The night before that November loss, Clutterbuck slept 15 hours, then went out and scored.
No word on how long MacLean slept, but he did exit practice early Sunday with what he called flu-like symptoms.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy said pregame he expected MacLean to play, however it wasn’t a sure thing until warmups.
“I used to be feeling it so much more yesterday after which somewhat bit today,” the 24-year-old MacLean told The Post after scoring to assist the Islanders clinch a playoff berth with a 4-1 win over the Devils. “I feel I felt well enough to play today. After I woke up, I felt ok. We form of monitored it throughout the day, but I used to be good to go. I feel yesterday might’ve been tough if the sport was yesterday, but today I felt good.”
Good thing for the Islanders, too. MacLean’s emergence as a fourth-line center has helped solve a series of lineup problems for Roy, allowing Casey Cizikas to play up with a primary line that has been nothing but effective because it’s been in place.
MacLean, whose speed and energy have proved an ideal complement to the grinding play of Clutterbuck and Matt Martin, has helped change the tenor of this season.
“He’s got my confidence,” Roy said.
It was only fitting against this team, for whom MacLean’s father, John, starred, that Kyle would rating the goal that put a bow on the sport, ending off a pass from Anders Lee to make the sport 4-1 at 6:17 of the third.
MacLean will make his playoff debut against the Hurricanes this weekend, hopefully feeling higher.
“It’s been up and down all yr,” he said, doubtless recalling that Lane Lambert was let go the day following his NHL debut in Chicago. “It’s been a battle. To clinch, to secure our spot within the playoffs, it’s big. It means so much. Obviously, it’s nice getting it done before Game 82. We’re trying to make some noise within the playoffs now.”
Noah Dobson (upper body) didn’t make the trip to Latest Jersey, with Roy citing the one-off nature of the road trip as to why.
The defenseman remains to be day-to-day.
Kyle MacLean was soaked in sweat, shirt sticking to his arms, and pleased as could be.
Cal Clutterbuck had told him before Monday night’s game, “You mostly rating if you’re not feeling well.”
Or no less than Clutterbuck has, including the last time the Islanders played at Prudential Center.
The night before that November loss, Clutterbuck slept 15 hours, then went out and scored.
No word on how long MacLean slept, but he did exit practice early Sunday with what he called flu-like symptoms.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy said pregame he expected MacLean to play, however it wasn’t a sure thing until warmups.
“I used to be feeling it so much more yesterday after which somewhat bit today,” the 24-year-old MacLean told The Post after scoring to assist the Islanders clinch a playoff berth with a 4-1 win over the Devils. “I feel I felt well enough to play today. After I woke up, I felt ok. We form of monitored it throughout the day, but I used to be good to go. I feel yesterday might’ve been tough if the sport was yesterday, but today I felt good.”
Good thing for the Islanders, too. MacLean’s emergence as a fourth-line center has helped solve a series of lineup problems for Roy, allowing Casey Cizikas to play up with a primary line that has been nothing but effective because it’s been in place.
MacLean, whose speed and energy have proved an ideal complement to the grinding play of Clutterbuck and Matt Martin, has helped change the tenor of this season.
“He’s got my confidence,” Roy said.
It was only fitting against this team, for whom MacLean’s father, John, starred, that Kyle would rating the goal that put a bow on the sport, ending off a pass from Anders Lee to make the sport 4-1 at 6:17 of the third.
MacLean will make his playoff debut against the Hurricanes this weekend, hopefully feeling higher.
“It’s been up and down all yr,” he said, doubtless recalling that Lane Lambert was let go the day following his NHL debut in Chicago. “It’s been a battle. To clinch, to secure our spot within the playoffs, it’s big. It means so much. Obviously, it’s nice getting it done before Game 82. We’re trying to make some noise within the playoffs now.”
Noah Dobson (upper body) didn’t make the trip to Latest Jersey, with Roy citing the one-off nature of the road trip as to why.
The defenseman remains to be day-to-day.
