New York Islanders forward Cal Ritchie didn’t just return to the lineup Thursday night — he announced himself as a player who can matter down the stretch.
As recently as Saturday, the expectation inside the organization was that the 21-year-old center would be sidelined until after the Olympic break. Instead, Ritchie was in uniform against the New Jersey Devils, centering Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman, and playing a meaningful role in the Islanders’ 3-1 road win in their final game before the layoff.
“I guess that’s why we should say day-to-day instead of a timeline,” coach Patrick Roy said earlier in the day.