Josh Bailey is expected to be back in the Islanders’ lineup for Game 3 of their series against the Lightning Tuesday night, and not a moment too soon. He probably could not have handled watching another game on television.
“During the game [when playing] I think I’m pretty calm, and then you watch on TV and you find yourself even more nervous and anxious,” he said after the morning skate Tuesday.
The veteran forward, who left Game 6 against the Panthers early with an upper-body injury, then sat out Games 1 and 2 against the Lightning, said the difference between TV and real life is particularly dramatic in overtime games.
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“Time just goes by; you just keep playing hockey and you almost don’t realize the situation,” he said. Not so on TV. “It’ll be a little easier to be involved in it.”
Bailey hopes to improve upon his performance against the Panthers, against whom he had no goals and one assist.
“The first couple of games were tough; the numbers obviously show that, too,” he said. “I just want to create more offensively.”
Easier said than done. One other thing Bailey learned by watching is that as nerve-wracking as the experience might be, it is far less complicated than actually being on the ice.
“I tell you what,” he said, “it’s a lot easier game on TV.”
..... - Newsday