Kyle MacLean sported a bruised right eye and stitches Tuesday, remnants of a physical encounter with Ty Dellandrea the previous night. MacLean's hit on San Jose's Ivar Stenberg late in the second period of the Islanders' 3-2 loss to the Sharks ignited a fiery response from the home team.

Initially, the incident nearly led to a fight between Mitchell Chaffee and Tyler Toffoli, but officials intervened. Following the next faceoff, MacLean fought Dellandrea, and Chaffee engaged with Barclay Goodrow.

"I just hit him and I think Dellandrea there felt he needed to stand up for his guy. He asked me. It was pretty cordial," MacLean told The Post. "I thought it was a good time. Plus for him, he’s standing up for his guy. I didn’t even know Chaf’ was going on the other side. Only noticed that midway through my fight [when] I looked over. I think it was, obviously, a passionate game. They want to stick up for their guy."

Islanders coach Pete DeBoer acknowledged the role players like MacLean and Chaffee play in generating energy. "Listen, I think those guys have to create energy and momentum for us," DeBoer said. "There’s different ways to do that. It’s either with the puck and tilting the ice or if not, it’s physicality. Good on them, on getting involved in the game in a physical way."

In other team news, forwards Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock, and Matias Maccelli participated in full-contact practice Tuesday. Pulock skated on a pairing with Adam Pelech, suggesting a potential return is nearing. Barzal centered the third line, and Maccelli rotated on the fourth line. All three responded well to drills Monday, according to DeBoer, and were incorporated into some special teams work Tuesday.

"They’re both battling. They’ve also been out for a long time. We want to make sure that when they do come in, it’s right. We’re not rushing it," DeBoer stated. "We got a day off tomorrow. We’ll see how they feel and make a decision game day."

Jean-Gabriel Pageau was absent from practice Tuesday for maintenance.

Separately, Sharks winger Mason Marchment was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for roughing Victor Eklund.