Islanders' Anthony Duclair has to prove he's finally healthy

Anthony Duclair is going through this preseason what Ilya Sorokin dealt with last September.

Both finally made their preseason debuts on Friday night as the Islanders lost to the Devils, 4-2, at UBS Arena, the fourth of the six-game exhibition slate.

There’s no question about Sorokin’s health or his vital importance to the Islanders’ success with longtime goalie partner Semyon Varlamov’s availability very much in question as he recovers from December knee surgery. Sorokin went 30-24-6 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage last season after missing the preseason as he recovered from back surgery.

Now it’s Duclair, the mercurial but speedy and often productive wing entering the second season of a four-year, $14 million deal, who must prove himself healthy. He suffered a groin injury five games into last season and has said he essentially skated on one leg while compiling a disappointing seven goals and four assists in 44 games.

“I felt pretty good, actually,” Duclair said after logging 17:07 on Mathew Barzal’s line along with Marc Gatcomb and bringing the Islanders within one goal as they skated six-on-five at 16:50 of the third period. “At first, I was just getting my feet wet, just trying to get the timing going. I felt more and more comfortable as the game went on.”

Duclair was on the ice for both of the Islanders’ goals and two of the Devils’ scores.

Friday marked his first game since coach Patrick Roy called his play “god-awful” in a loss to the Lightning on April 1. Duclair was granted a leave of absence the next day.

Duclair initially was expected to play in Thursday night’s 5-4 comeback win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden but did not because of an upper-body issue unrelated to his groin.

Duclair’s skating, which looked so labored last season, has not been an issue.

“It feels even way better than the summer,” he said.

Sorokin, playing the full game, stopped 23 of 26 shots, moved his feet quickly and consistently was in good position. Roy said Sorokin wants to play two full preseason games.

“It’s much different than last year,” Sorokin said. “I’m just working.”

Notes & quotes: Ethan Bear exited at 6:47 of the third period. The Islanders had no immediate update on the defenseman . . . Roy was not happy with the Islanders’ overall play — “Was today a good step? No” — but he quickly praised defenseman Marshall Warren after the Laurel Hollow product had four hits in 16:53. “Wow, he played a really strong game,” Roy said. “He’s playing with that grit.” . . . Gatcomb established position at the crease to tie the score at 1-1 at 11:30 of the second period . . . Anders Lee (upper body) skated with the non-game group in a no-contact jersey on Friday morning . . . The Islanders reduced their roster to 51 players by reassigning goalie Henrik Tikkanen, defenseman Calle Odelius and forwards Alex Jeffries, Joey Larson, Matt Maggio and Cam Thiesing to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Further cuts are expected before Monday’s night’s game against the visiting Rangers.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.