To say the Islanders’ season has been weird so far is an understatement. It’s been even odder for Brock Nelson.
The second-line center, still tied for the team lead in goals, has played only four games since Nov. 21. Yet, he’s only had to be out of the lineup nine times in that span, missing seven games with a lower-body injury and the last two while in COVID-19 protocol.
Nelson is hoping his latest return, when the Islanders end a stretch of only three games in 25 days by facing the Devils on Thursday night at UBS Arena, marks the start of him being consistently in the lineup.