Islanders in tricky Anthony Duclair spot with season at critical point

Anthony Duclair has been through enough injuries to know it rarely is a smooth process to return midseason.

While rehabbing the suspected groin injury that kept him out for two months, he was told it would take time before things felt completely normal. 

In that sense, it’s not a shock that Duclair’s long-anticipated return to the lineup has brought forth only halting returns for the Islanders — three points in five games going into Thursday’s home match against the Maple Leafs, with too few instances of the 29-year-old driving play or making an impact along the walls. 

“I’m gonna be feeling [the injury] for a little bit — I’m definitely, obviously, good enough to play,” Duclair told The Post on Thursday morning. “For me, it’s just getting my timing back, trying to create some chemistry with some guys. Obviously, playing with some different linemates. Just trying to find my rhythm, to be honest. Just being more confident with the puck in battles and stuff like that.” 

This is where the situation in which the Islanders got themselves during Duclair’s (and Mat Barzal’s) extended absence gets them into trouble. 

It is not abnormal for any player who misses time to take a few weeks — and often longer — before really looking like himself.

But the Islanders, 14-17-7 entering Thursday, are in no position to preach patience.

They cannot tell themselves that results will come eventually because it won’t matter if they start winning a month from now — the season already will be shot. 

At the same time, there is not really another option available. 

“Sometimes, you need to be patient,” coach Patrick Roy said. “He hadn’t skated for over six weeks. But he needs to clean up a few things and he’ll be fine.” 

The head coach specifically cited Duclair’s play along the wall, saying the two had a discussion about it Thursday morning following a messy game in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Leafs. 

“I think every injury’s a different process for sure, different rehab,” Duclair said. “When it’s lower body, obviously you can’t skate and can’t get the condition that you want, rather than upper body. That’s just a part that’s gonna come with time and keep playing games.” 

Roy also has declined to reunite the Duclair-Bo Horvat-Barzal trio that looked for all of training camp as though it was written in permanent marker.

The head coach has said his priority at the moment is to play Barzal at his natural position down the middle and to spread the Islanders’ center depth out in order to create better matchups. 

One of the tradeoffs that requires, though, is forcing Duclair to go through this process while playing alongside players with whom he has little to no experience. 

Initially, Roy had Duclair with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri upon returning. In Toronto on Tuesday, that changed to a line with Horvat and Casey Cizikas, which stayed in place Thursday. 

Whatever the lineup configuration, the Islanders have used up all of their jokers this season.

There is no time left to wait before getting more consistent results. 

The 6-3 win over the Leafs on Dec. 21 — Duclair’s first game back in the lineup — has been repeatedly cited as a model.

But the Isles have yet to return to the level they achieved that night. 

“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Duclair said. “I don’t see why not. We all know what we have to do. We all know we’re a good team. We’ve got some good players in this locker room, some good leadership. And we know what we have to do, ’cause we’ve shown ourselves that we can and we’re capable of doing it.”