Islanders’ Calum Ritchie to return after six-game absence

A surprise return right before the Olympic break.

When speaking to the media, New York Islanders forward Calum Ritchie stated that he will be in the lineup on Thursday night when the team goes up against the New Jersey Devils, the two rivals’ final contest before the league-wide pause.

Ritchie has been out of action for close to two weeks due to a lower-body injury. It was originally reported that he would be out until after the Olympic break. Yet, by his update Thursday morning, he’s clearly good to go.

The 21-year-old’s last game came back on Jan. 24 against the Buffalo Sabres. There was no report of any ailment coming out of that game, as Ritchie was a surprise scratch from the Isles’ game two days later against the Philadelphia Flyers. In his six-game absence, the Islanders have done well, going 4-2-0, including picking up a big overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Ritchie has missed a number of games this season due to both injury and being a healthy scratch. He missed the first couple of weeks of the season due to a lower-body injury, not making his season debut until Halloween. In 40 games, the rookie has potted seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. He was riding a four-game point streak prior to his last game against the Sabres.

This is the Oakville, Ont. native’s first season on Long Island. He, along with Oliver Kylington and a couple of draft picks, was traded to the Islanders from the Colorado Avalanche as part of a deadline deal that sent Brock Nelson to Denver.

The Islanders (31-21-5) hope to head into the break on a high note. The team sits third in the Metropolitan Division, one point out of second place and nine points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes.