ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders [http://thn.com/isles] are hitting the road for Dad's Weekend, as they head to the state of Florida for a back-to-back against the Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] and Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers]. Here's the latest on the injuy front: After taking warmups, forward Jonathan Drouin [https://x.com/stefen_rosner/status/1996780511348339006]was a late scratch on Thursday night. The 30-year-old woke up feeling something in his lower back and ultimately couldn't go. He's day-to-day, but the positive news is that he is coming on the trip, and the injury appears to be minor. With the way Maxim Tsyplakov filled in for him on the Mathew Barzal line, there's no reason to rush Drouin if he can't go on Saturday or even Sunday. Islanders & Best Buds Jonathan Drouin & Anthony Duclair Training Together [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/86ff4830-0a6f-4aed-a372-997a81a18b89.webp] Islanders & Best Buds Jonathan Drouin & Anthony Duclair Training Together <a href="http://thn.com/isles">New York Islanders</a> forwards <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/anthony-duclair-profile-projection">Anthony Duclair </a>and free agent signing <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/jonathan-drouin-on-why-he-signed-with-islanders">Jonathan Drouin</a> are best friends, so it's not a shock that the two are training together ahead of the 2025-26 season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/islanders-best-buds-jonathan-drouin-anthony-duclair-training-together] Drouin, who signed a two-year deal worth $4 million annually on July 1, has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 26 games this season. Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/jean-gabriel-pageau-returns-to-islanders-team-skate-for-first-time-since-injury] will travel with the Islanders, but isn't likely to play. The 33-year-old sustained an upper-body injury in their 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 22. Initially ruled week-to-week, general manager Mathieu Darche shared that the expectation was to have Pageau back before Christmas. He started skating on his own late last week and rejoined team practice on Tuesday, Dec. 2, wearing a non-contact jersey. Jean-Gabriel Pageau Returns To Islanders Team Skate For First Time Since Injury [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3e664740-5bd9-4d2f-a22b-4d971a877622.jpeg] Jean-Gabriel Pageau Returns To Islanders Team Skate For First Time Since Injury Pageau skates again! The Islanders forward rejoins team practices, signaling a potential holiday return and boosting their lineup. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/jean-gabriel-pageau-returns-to-islanders-team-skate-for-first-time-since-injury] Pageau, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points in 22 games. One injury update from Bridgeport: defenseman Isaiah George (upper body) has returned to practice and is considered day-to-day. The 21-year-old, who played 33 games for the Islanders in 2024-25, has not played since Nov. 14 against Wilkes-Barre Scranton. Defenseman Travis Mitchell has played the last four games for the Islanders, trying to navigate the absence of Alexander Romanov. Romanov is out for the season with a right shoulder injury that requires surgery. George has one goal and three assists in 14 games with Bridgeport this season, owning a +3. The Islanders did not hold a practice on Friday. They will hold a morning skate in Tampa on Saturday ahead of their 7 PM puck drop against the Lightning. They will not skate on Sunday morning with puck drop against the Panthers at 5 PM.
