EAST MEADOW — New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau won’t miss any more time other than the portion of the second period he missed during Monday night’s loss to the Washington Capitals after he was crunched into the boards by Alex Ovechkin.
“I was banged up after the hit,” Pageau said on Wednesday prior to the Islanders’ matchup against the Bruins. “I got back and got the test and felt very good after. I felt normal. So that’s why I came back and, again, two days after. Yesterday, it felt fine. Today, it felt great on the ice.”
At the 6:35 mark of the second period and with the Islanders leading 3-0, Pageau cleared a puck in the Islanders’ zone along the left boards before Ovechkin barreled him into the glass. Looking dazed, help left the game but returned toward the end of the very same period — but the momentum gained by the hit fueled the Capitals to a comeback victory.
“I knew he was coming. I was trying to clear the puck and he finished his hit,” Pageau said. “He’s been around for a while so he knew what he was doing. It is what it is.”
Ovechkin’s hit was not penalized by the officials, who confirmed the decision with a review shortly after the incident.
“When you look at the replay, I don’t think I liked it,” Pageau said. “It’s part of his game. He’s scoring goals. He’s finishing his hits and it’s just another hit for him. He’s been known to hit guys hard and he hit me hard and it’s part of the game.”
The 30-year-old third-line center has 10 goals and 16 assists in 45 games this season.
