New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri, who picked up an assist as he limped off the ice during Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, made that play on a torn ACL, the team said.
He will have surgery and miss six to eight months, the Islanders announced Saturday, Nov. 29.
Palmieri went down behind the Philadelphia net in the second period after getting tangled up with Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale. He struggled to get to his feet as the play went to the other end. But the Islanders broke it up and Flyers player Emil Andrae backed into his defensive zone with the puck.
Palmieri, heading slowly to the bench, stripped the puck and passed to Jonathan Drouin, who fed Emil Heineman for a goal. Palmieri continued off the ice and went to the dressing room with assistance, never returning to the game.
Kyle Palmieri injury update
The Islanders said Palmieri would have surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He will miss six to eight months, knocking him out of the rest of the regular season and possibly all of the playoffs.
‘That was a crazy play by (Palmieri),’ Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. ‘I mean, c’mon, you hurt yourself and being able to make that play was pretty impressive. It showed the character that he has and the person that he is.’
Palmieri had been the Islanders’ reigning ironman, playing 223 consecutive games. He was tied for first on the team with 12 assists and tied for second with 18 points in 25 games.