About a month ago after a preseason game, Oliver Wahlstrom sat in the Islanders’ locker room at UBS Arena, huffing and puffing between answers in the midst of an interview.
It was a moment that underscored the obstacles in Wahlstrom’s rehab from knee surgery that ended his 2022-23 season in December.
He didn’t just need to get the knee better, he needed to build up his lungs and endurance back to where they could handle the demands of the NHL.
So the 13:51 Wahlstrom played in a 2-0 win for the Islanders over Columbus on Saturday night was notable not just because he played as well as he has this season or because he was promoted to the top line for the latter part of the evening.
It mattered because Wahlstrom did not need to catch his breath in the Nationwide Arena locker room when speaking after the game.
“I feel great,” he said. “Feel like I just put so much work in the offseason and the beginning of the season here and I’m still doing it. I can really tell how strong I am in the rehab process. It’s still a step in the right direction.”
This was the first time Wahlstrom played meaningful late-game minutes as the Islanders defended a one-goal lead for most of the third period.
And after getting moved to the top line with Anders Lee and Bo Horvat — a move that, coach Lane Lambert made clear, will not carry over into Monday’s game against the Red Wings — Wahlstrom seemed completely comfortable.
“I thought he played really good tonight,” Lambert said. “And it’s good because he’s getting some reps, so to speak. Maybe some consistency. Getting some starts. And I thought he played really good. I thought he added an element of physicality for us. I thought his defensive play was responsible. I thought he had a couple good chances.”
Wahlstrom still has yet to record a point in four games this season.
But he is feeling like himself again and, for the time being, that is just as important.
“I don’t really think I’m that far off [full strength], honestly,” he said. “I’m right there. I’m ready to go. Each game’s a learning game for me and I’m 100 percent ready to go.”
The Red Wings (5-3-1) come into Monday’s game at UBS Arena having lost three straight, including a 4-1 defeat to the Bruins on Saturday. The Islanders have beaten Detroit seven straight times on home ice.
The Islanders did not hold practice Sunday after returning from Columbus.
