Overview
- Coach Patrick Roy says neither Bo Horvat nor Ondrej Palat will sit out games, with practice reps and rest adjusted based on daily mental and physical check‑ins.
- Ondrej Palat returned to practice Tuesday, while Bo Horvat arrived back on Long Island the same day and is confirmed for Thursday’s lineup in Montreal.
- Roy cites his difficulty readjusting after Canada’s 1998 Olympics as the guide for a cautious, communication‑first approach to prevent a post‑tournament dip.
- The pair just endured a heavy load — eight Islanders games in 13 nights before the break followed by six Olympic games in 11 days — elevating fatigue concerns.
- With about 24 games left and the Islanders third in the Metropolitan Division, protecting two‑thirds of the top line and power‑play contributors is a priority, and GM Mathieu Darche made a minor swap sending Julien Gauthier to St. Louis for Matt Luff.