Uniondale, NY (My Sportsbook) - New York Islanders forward Michael Peca might return ahead of schedule from a serious knee injury. Head coach Peter Laviolette told Newsday that the Islanders' captain has been given December 4th as a target return date by team doctors.

Peca underwent successful surgery in May to repair a torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee. He was expected to be sidelined through December at that time.

"It could very easily go beyond that," Peca told Newsday, "depending on how things progress."

Peca suffered the injury on a hip-check by Toronto's Darcy Tucker during Game 5 of a first-round playoff series against the Maple Leafs. New York came out on the short end of that nasty seven-game series. New York hosts Toronto on December 6.

Peca has talked angrily about the hit and contends that Tucker was trying to intentionally cause an injury.

In 79 regular season games in 2001-02, the finalist for the Selke Award as the NHL's best defensive forward posted 25 goals and 35 assists. He has 127 goals and 162 assists in his career, which covers 480 contests.

The 28-year-old Peca broke into the league with Vancouver during the 1993-94 season and played in 37 games for the Canucks. He joined Buffalo for the 1995-96 campaign and played five seasons for the Sabres before signing with the Islanders.