A much calmer Adam Pelech than was on display Sunday said Tuesday morning that he considers the matter of Paul Cotter’s illegal check to his head to be over and done with.
Pelech, who left the 1-0 win over the Devils with a bloodied face, slamming his helmet down and screaming at Cotter, was cleared to return for the Islanders’ home finale Tuesday against the Capitals.
“I obviously wasn’t cleared to come back into [Sunday’s] game,” Pelech said before the 3-1 loss to the Capitals. “But I went through it all again yesterday, the concussion protocols, and I feel good. So we’re ready to go.”
Cotter was suspended for the Devils’ final two regular-season games over the hit, both of which are meaningless with New Jersey locked into a first-round matchup against the Hurricanes. Pelech said Cotter reached out after the game to clear the air.
The Islanders defenseman has a history of concussions, which was a big part of why he was so upset in the moment. Pelech also missed significant time this season with a broken jaw. Cotter was handed a 5-minute major and match penalty for the hit, and coach Patrick Roy continued to express disdain for the play Tuesday.
“We don’t like that. Nobody was very happy about what happened there,” Roy said. “The good thing is [Pelech] was on the ice today, and he’s ready to play. The league took care of that situation. But you don’t like what happened, no doubt about it.”
Alexander Romanov was a late scratch with illness. Scott Perunovich played in his stead, getting into a game for the first time since Feb. 25, skating 18:25.
Tristan Lennox, who was assigned to AHL Bridgeport in a paper transaction Sunday, was on the ice with the Islanders on Tuesday morning, though technically not on the roster.
After ESPN dropped Tuesday’s game, the only coverage available to local viewers was via the Islanders’ website and app, which streamed the match with Brendan Burke and Butch Goring on the call, or on the radio.
The game was available to out-of-market viewers on ESPN+.
