The New York Islanders’ injury woes keep growing.
Mathew Barzal was placed on long-term injured reserve on Saturday and announced as out four to six weeks with an upper-body injury suffered on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Adam Pelech, who took a puck to the mouth and left Friday’s win over the Buffalo Sabres in the second period, is also out four to six weeks, the team announced. He’s on regular injured reserve.
And Mike Reilly, who also left Friday’s game after a big hit from Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway left him motionless on the ice for several moments, is listed as day-to-day. So is Alex Romanov, who left Friday’s game and returned, though the Islanders are hopeful Romanov can play Sunday afternoon against the Rangers.
Defensemen Grant Hutton and Samuel Bolduc were called up from AHL Bridgeport to give the Islanders a playable roster of defensemen, but this is now three long-term injuries to key players. Anthony Duclair is also out another two to four weeks.
Barzal on LTIR allows the Islanders to use part or all of his $9.15 million cap hit to round out their roster, but unless he’s out for months, a major trade seems highly unlikely.
The Islanders will have to muddle through and patch their group together.
(Photo of Adam Pelech and Mathew Barzal: Perry Nelson / USA Today)
