Breaking: Major blow to the Islanders' blue line ahead of 2nd round!

More details here...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Breaking: Major blow to the Islanders' blue line ahead of 2nd round!
Twitter


The New York Islanders might have won the first round of the postseason, sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins back on Tuesday, they have lost an important part of their roster. 

On Friday morning, Isles general manager Lou Lamoriello met with media as the team was on the ice this morning and announced that defenseman Johnny Boychuk is expected to be out with a lower-body injury for the next three to four weeks. 

The veteran blue liner went missing during the last period of the Islanders' 3-1 victory to sweep the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Cal Clutterbuck was also absent from the team's bench during the contest, however, Lamoriello confirmed that both he and Scott Mayfield were simply missing from practice due to maintenance day. 

The 35-year-old had one assist in four games during the first-round sweep of the Penguins. In 74 regular season games, Boychuk posted three goals and 19 points while averaging 18:50 of ice time.

The Isles are set to face the winner of the Washington Capitals - Carolina Hurricanes series, with the series tied at two games apiece following the Canes' 2-1 victory over the Caps last night in Raleigh. If the best-of-seven series that puts Game 7 on Wednesday — meaning the earliest the second round would likely start, should that series go the distance, would be two days later, on April 26.

While it won't give Boychuk enough time to make a return to the Islanders' lineup, it will allow Clutterbuck to be in better shape and more rested for the second round. 

Source: Islanders