Islanders' Anders Lee misses the competition in NHL

Anders Lee of the Islanders skates during the first period against the Sharks at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Sunday Feb. 23, 2020. Credit: Jim McIsaac

Anders Lee was asked to describe the toughest challenges playing against the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin, the Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno and the Devils’ P.K. Subban, the three other participants on an NHL-conducted video conference call on Thursday.

It seemed to make the Islanders captain – involuntarily sidelined along with the rest of the sports world because of the COVID-19 pandemic – wistful.

“What you love about the game is the challenges it brings every night, every shift,” Lee said. “That’s what makes it so rewarding when you’re successful…