Forget Christmas. Jean-Gabriel Pageau was back well in time for Hanukkah.

Pageau returned from an upper-body injury that kept him out for eight games on Tuesday, rejoining the Islanders to start a three-game homestand against the Golden Knights well ahead of his initial timeline.

“It’s never fun to be on the sideline and watching your teammates battling,” Pageau told reporters before skating 18:58 in the 5-4 shootout win over the Knights . “They’ve been playing some super good hockey. I feel extremely excited to join the group and be able to go back to battle with them.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau warms up prior to Islanders’ 5-4 shootout win over the Golden Knights at UBS Arena on Dec. 9, 2025. NHLI via Getty Images

Pageau’s reentry into the fold prompted a minor lineup shake-up from Patr

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