Anders Lee out with broken leg, Islanders remain in injury hell
When the New York Islanders defeated the New York Rangers on Thursday night, there was cause for celebration. It was the first time they had swept a season series from their archrivals, and they did so despite several impactful injuries to their lineup.
Unfortunately, the trend continued: Forward Anders Lee fractured his leg after getting hit with a Johnny Boychuk slap shot in the first period, and his season is likely over no matter how far the Islanders advance, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday. (And if you need to know how hard Boychuk shoots, ask Brendan Gallagher’s gross fingers.)
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Lee, 25, has been a valuable depth forward for the Islanders this season, with 15 goals and 21 assists in 80 games. He’s had his slumps, and like other role players on the team he was singled out by coach Jack Capuano. But Lee gives you a solid 14 minutes a night and is actually fifth on the Islanders in average power-play time at 2:29. They’ll miss him, and Lee loses a chance to atone for his healthy scratches in last season’s playoffs.
But then, who aren’t they missing? Against the Rangers, the Islanders were without defensemen Travis Hamonic and Brian Strait; forwards Cal Clutterbuck, Matt Martin and Mikhail Grabovski; and goalie Jaroslav Halak. Hamonic is out at least the rest of the regular season. Halak was in full gear this week, and is working his way back from a groin injury. Grabovski’s return is a mystery due to concussion symptoms.
The Islanders could be without some of these players when the postseason begins next week, or they could be getting a slew of reinforcements at the right time as they return to the lineup. In either case, Boychuk says overcoming lineup losses is just what NHL teams do.
“Every good team has to, and continue to do it. Guys step up when other guys go down. That’s the game of hockey. When you get a chance, you take it,” he said.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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