Why the Islanders’ playoff hopes hinge on a key forward’s willingness to play through pain

The moment that sums up Anthony Duclair’s past couple of months came in the final game before the Islanders entered the 4 Nations break.

Coming off the ice late in the first period against the Wild amid yet another messy stretch of play — Duclair had failed to get back to try to prevent Marco Rossi’s goal minutes into the game and struggled through the rest of the period — the Islanders’ marquee summer acquisition slammed the door after reaching the bench and sat with his head down.

He knows what we all know, can see what we all see: that Duclair’s performance over 21 games since returning from a suspected groin injury has not been good enough, not nearly good enough, and that it must improve dramatically for the Islanders to make the playoffs.

“Definitely frustrating,” Duclair said after the Islanders practiced Wednesday. “First time I’ve gone through this. Obviously, my first year in New York, I want to give the best impression.”