Islanders News: Finally won, but lost Barzal and Pelech

3 days ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey  /  Read Time: 1 minute 48 seconds

Bo celebrates with half the remaining defensemen. | Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images


Those two will be out long-term, in addition to all the other injury concerns. Well, the New York Islanders earned a big road win last night over the Buffalo Sabres, but part of what made it such a big win was the attrition they overcame to make it happen; it fortunately didn’t happen, but there was a minute where it appeared the Islanders were going to play without the entire left side of their defense.
Already without Anthony Duclair, the news broke yesterday that Mathew Barzal was returning to Long Island to be evaluated for an upper-body injury with a timeline to follow (more on that shortly). Then, during a five-minute span in the second period, Alex Romanov appeared to get re-injured in his first game back, Adam Pelech took a puck square to the face, and Mike Reilly suffered a horrifying head injury when he landed on it after a Jordan Greenway check.
Reilly’s injury was the scariest; he was knocked out cold on contact, before the rest of his body landed, and stayed knocked out for several minutes, but amazingly was able to get up and skate off with assistance rather than riding out on the stretcher the Buffalo emergency staff had taken out for him. He also flew back with the team rather than going to the hospital for further evaluation. But when the injury occurred, Romanov hadn’t yet returned to the bench. He did right after the commercial break, and the Islanders gutted out a 4-3 win.
Today, we got injury updates before the Isles’ practice at the Garden ahead of tomorrow’s game against the New York Rangers, and it’s not good:


#Isles Injury Updates: Mat Barzal: upper - 4-6 weeks (LTIR)Adam Pelech: upper - 4-6 weeks (IR)Mike Reilly: upper - day to dayAlex Romanov: upper - day to dayGrant Hutton and Samuel Bolduc have been recalled from Bridgeport.— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 2, 2024




So that’s now two-thirds of the top line the Islanders will miss at least until December and possibly longer. Pelech is getting his annual month-long injury out of the way early again. During practice, here’s how they skated.


#Isles lines stay the sameLee-Horvat-PageauTsyplakov-Nelson-PalmieriEngvall-Cizikas-HolmstromFasching-MacLean-WahlstromMartin skating as an extra D-manDobson, Pulock, Mayfield, Cholowski, Hutton, Bolduc the d-men. Pairs are rotating SorokinVarlamov— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 2, 2024




However, it was announced that Romanov wouldn’t practice today, and Patrick Roy expects him to play tomorrow against the Rangers, with Ilya Sorokin starting. At least they should have Romanov back, but this is going to be tough. Complicating matters is the fact that the Islanders play seven of their next nine games on the road, including the Seattle and Western Canada trip they usually struggle with.
Maybe they rally after last night’s gritty game and Sorokin’s talent keeps them afloat before the rest of the top line returns to carry this team to some semblance of glory. Or maybe the season’s over by Thanksgiving. We shall see.
Islanders News
About last night:

It was a bounce back game as the Islanders managed four goals. [LHH]
The new look top line had a nice night. [Islanders]
It was a gutsy win. [Newsday] The kind of win a team can rally around. [THN]
But even though they won, it came with a feeling of dread. [NY Post]
“21 of the Isles’ 25 goals have been scored in just five of their games (4-0-1).” [NYI Skinny]

Aftermath of last night:

Here’s the team site’s article with Lou Lamoriello’s comments. [Islanders]
The injury news is “nothing short of [] devastating.” [NY Post]
Grant Hutton and Sam Bolduc are here to save the day. [THN]
This was posted prior to the Islanders announcing Barzal’s timeline, but based on how the season began coupled with this news, it’s tough not to feel like the season is lost already. Prove us wrong! [The Athletic]

Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include the Rangers (or really, Igor Shesterkin) beating the Senators, and the Devils getting shutout by the Flames.

Dakota Joshua has returned to Canucks practice after recovering from testicular cancer this summer. Great to see. [NHL]
2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini has also returned to practice. [NHL]
32 Thoughts went over some teams who are struggling, but not the Islanders. [Sportsnet]
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