New York Islanders rookie defenseman Samuel Bolduc has not had a strong start to his first Stanley Cup Playoffs experience. But Lane Lambert doesn't have many options with Alexander Romanov still out.

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Samuel Bolduc has not had a strong start to his first Stanley Cup Playoffs experience.

After watching from the bench for the final 8:30 of the third period in New York's 2-1 defeat on Monday night after a shaky performance, he sat for longer in Game 2's 4-3 overtime loss on Wednesday. 

With 15:59 to play in the second period and the Islanders down 1-0, Bolduc got his stick up on Carolina defenseman Brett Pesce, earning him a double-minor for high sticking, the Islanders' second such penalty of the evening.

The Islanders did kill off the infraction, a penalty kill that went five-for-six on the night. 

However, Lambert had seen enough from his 22-year-old defenseman as he sat and watched the remaining 41:02.

There's no question that if defenseman Alexander Romanov was healthy, Bolduc would be the odd man out. 

"He hadn't played too many games up here, and with every young player that comes up, there's a continual learning process, and playoffs are a completely different level," Lambert said regarding Bolduc. 

"So, just getting acclimatized to that level has been a little bit of a challenge for him, but he's done some good things as well."

However, despite skating on his own for a week after suffering an upper-body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Apr. 1, there's no timetable for his return.

Lambert said Thursday that Romanov is getting "closer" and then was asked if he was at the point where he could physically withstand playoff hockey.

"Well, this is what's being determined and evaluated, and this is what he's working on on a daily basis," Lambert said. 

Lambert does have the option of going to another rookie, 25-year-old Parker Wotherspoon.

"I think, at this point, everyone's an option," Lambert said. "That's why the guys that aren't playing are working so hard to make sure that they're ready if, in fact, they're called upon.

"So Parker's always been an option."

The reason Bolduc was recalled and had been playing down the stretch over Wotherspoon was due to the fact that Bolduc played on the power play in Bridgeport. 

With defenseman and power-play, two quarterback Sebastian Aho out hurt, Lambert needed that specialty, which Wotherspoon could not provide.

In his 12 appearances this season, Wotherspoon did show well, especially on the defensive side of the puck, as a smart, stay-at-home defenseman -- something the Islanders could use right now.

However, Wotherspoon has not played in an NHL game since Jan. 21. 

If Wotherspoon did get in, there has to be concern with rust, but also being in over his head, making his NHL playoff debut in a game the Islanders have to have staring down a 2-0 series deficit. 

Now Lambert could do something ludicrous.

With Bolduc being taken out of the rotation in back-to-back games to kick this series off, there's no question it's putting stress on the other five defensemen. 

Essentially, when the game is on the line, the Islanders are playing five defensemen anyway, so why not run five defensemen to start the game?

It's a crazy thought, just in case a defenseman gets hurt mid-game, like we saw with the Tampa Bay Lightning in their Game 1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, losing Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak.

For as much slack as Josh Bailey, the longest-tenured Islander, has received during this season, he is a penalty killer and someone who has shined in past playoff runs for New York.

There's ways for Lambert to use his effectively throughout a game. That's not to say that the Islanders should be relying on Bailey to be a saving grace in this series, but using him sparingly on the penalty kill or giving certain players a breather -- hopping on after penalty killers come off or elongated shifts -- could be real benefit. 

Although Bolduc has struggled defensively, he isn't the only culprit.

Noah Dobson continues to struggle to make quick plays. Even Ryan Pulock, who had a fantastic showing for a second-straight game, was sometimes a tad slow with his decision-making.

Scott Mayfield, who showed well on the penalty kill, made a mistake on the Hurricanes' overtime winner after getting high-sticked. 

READ MORE: Missed High-Stick Call in OT Cost Islanders

Without Romanov, Lambert has needed guys to take on more responsibility than usual. Some have responded well. Others haven't, which is why Bolduc is barely playing. 

"It's not just one person stepping in and assuming that role," the first-year bench boss said. "Certainly, Romanovs physicality is missed. And we've had to up certain guys' minutes a little bit, but that's basically it."

Through two games, here's the average TOI for Islanders defensemen:

Adam Pelech-25:26

Ryan Pulock-24:28

Scott Mayfield-23:26

Noah Dobson-23:31

Sebastian Aho-16:37

Samuel Bolduc-7:00

There's a clear discrepancy from the fifth defenseman to the sixth. But that's not the issue, as whoever the sixth defenseman is, their minutes would likely be slim.

But there's still a way to be effective in those limited minutes, and Bolduc hasn't been.

If no changes are made, Islanders head coach Lane Lambert needs to see more out of Bolduc, a responsible straightforward game, the one we saw more often than not during the regular season. 

Because, right now, he's playing himself onto the bench when the Islanders can't afford that.