Sandin was hurt with just 19 seconds remaining in the first frame, absorbing a hit from Oilers forward Curtis Lazar against the boards. After getting up slowly, Sandin got back into position and made a big shot block on defender Ty Emberson with the inside of his leg. The 25-year-old Swede needed assistance to get back to the team's bench once the horn sounded to end the period.
Plus: Despite not recording a point, Ryan Leonard stood out. The 20-year-old was buzzing all night with seven shots on goal, and a particularly excellent shift towards the end of the third where he led a flurry that ended with a Rasmus Sandin goal aided by his screen in front. For a team looking for a spark offensively, this was an encouraging sign.
Strome was a full participant in the team's morning skate, but head coach Spencer Carbery was unwilling to say whether he'd be good to go against the New York Islanders on Friday night. The 28-year-old center has already missed one game with a lower-body injury that he suffered early in a loss to the Ottawa Senators last weekend. "We'll see," Carbery said. "Got to talk to the medical staff and we'll see for tonight."
In the team's 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, the Swedish blueliner skated a season low 15:01 of ice time. He took just four shifts in the third period, last coming off the ice after a 21-second shift with 7:53 left in regulation. Sandin is averaging 19:23 of ice time per game this fall and has recorded two assists in his last three games. Last season, he did not miss a single game, notching 30 points (4g, 26a) in 82 appearances.
Nicklas Backstrom is currently plying his trade in Sweden, but that hasn't stopped his former teammates from cheering him on from afar. After missing close to two seasons with a lingering hip injury, Backstrom re-joined his hometown Brynäs IF in the SHL this summer, playing his first professional game since October 2023 last month. Four thousand miles away in DC, Backstrom's longtime compatriots have been thrilled to see his return to the game, especially after seeing the toll his injury took firsthand.
