The scaphoid bone is one of the eight carpal bones of the wrist joint.

If they weren’t already, the Maine Nordiques have become familiar with the scaphoid bone, due to fractures suffered by a pair of key contributors early in the 2024-25 season. Three-year forward Kellen Murphy injured his right wrist in training camp while powerlifting, while second-year defenseman Luke Chappelle broke the bone in his left wrist cross-checking an opponent during a game at the North American Hockey League showcase in September.

“I mean, the injury was tough, but the fact that Chappelle had the same thing, it was kind of cool,” Murphy said. “I guess in that way we were able to talk with each other a lot and keep each other updated and have each other for that. It was nice to have a teammate to go through that.”

Both players returned to the lineup the same day, Jan. 3, and their offensive production in the second half of the season helped the Nordiques clinch the third seed in the NAHL East Division. They begin the playoffs with a best-of-three series this week at The Colisee against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. Game 1 at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“Injuries (have) been the thorn in our side this season,” Maine Nordiques coach Nick Skerlick said. “You know, I thought our group did a really nice job learning to combat the injuries. When you don’t start the season with somebody, you don’t really see the impact they can make on your team.”

Murphy scored 25 goals and dished 29 assists for 54 points in 60 games regular-season games in 2023-24. Since his return, he has 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games. Chappelle scored three goals and nine assists in 36 regular-season games last year. He’s played 32 games this season — including seven games before the injury — and set a single-season franchise record for a defenseman with 12 goals. He also has 14 assists.

Murphy’s and Chappelle’s production has been big boost for Maine, which had only four players rack up 40 or more points in the regular season: Ethan Wongus had 60 (20 goals, 40 assists), Laurent Trepanier (25 goals, 32 assists) and Zion Green (17 goals, 40 assists) each had 57, and Shane Kozlina finished with 41 (16 goals, 25 assists).

“It was big, for sure,” Chappelle said. “Our team really needed it, and I just played my role every night — we got the job done.”

They didn’t produce immediately after they returned to action. Chappelle only scored one goal in his first four games back. Murphy contributed just two assists in the first six games.

“I was definitely out of shape and not in-game speed,” Murphy said. “It took a little while to kind of adapt to that. I was stunned, honestly, how good our team was right when I came back. I don’t think there was a slow step from the team. I was kind of like, ‘Holy, it’s fast.’ It took a little bit to adapt back into it.”

The slow start didn’t surprise Skerlick.

“I mean, you miss four months of the season, everyone’s already 35, 40 games in,” Skerlick said. “You know, it’s going to take a little bit to catch up, so we’re excited to have (them) back.”

Skerlick was particularly excited to get Murphy back in the lineup because he provides a veteran presence and competes for the puck, the forecheck and puck possession — the type of things that are important to a team’s success in the playoffs.

Chappelle, meanwhile, will have to shift to more of a postseason mindset. Skerlick was concerned a few weeks ago that Chappelle was focusing to much on scoring and not enough on defense, then Nordiques assistant Caleb Labrie pointed out that Chappelle was chasing the team’s single-season defenseman scoring record.

“I’ll definitely play more defensive, for sure, and just try and win more games,” Chappelle said.

Game 2 of the series against New Hampshire will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday, and Game 3, if necessary, is at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The Mountain Kings are coached by Auburn native Cam Robichaud and feature former Lewiston High School standouts Tanner Anctil and Damon Bossie.