Visnovsky ready to return for Islanders; Nabokov too

The New York Islanders have been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference since the beginning of the new year, and now they're about to get healthier as well - particularly on the defensive end.

Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky - out with a concussion since mid-October - has reportedly been cleared for action and could be activated for Monday's game at Boston.  To make room for Visnovsky on the roster, concussed defenseman Travis Hamonic will probably be placed on the IR, retroactive to January 12th.

Photo credit: Jim McIssac/LIN

Hamonic suffered his concussion at Dallas and was sent back to New York for evaluation.  Both he, Visnovsky and goaltender Evengi Nabokov have been skating with the team since returning from that road trip.

Nabokov, who has been out for three weeks with a quad strain, hopes to be activated for Wednesday's face off with the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.  He is by far the Islanders' best netminder, sporting a record of 9-8-5 with one shutout with a stat line of 2.88 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

The Islanders are 8-4-1 since New Years' Day and have climbed back into contention as part of the logjam behind runaway leader Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division.

http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2014/01/vosnovsky-ready-to-return-for-islanders.html