Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a game-time decision for Game 1 against Carolina.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a game-time decision for Game 1 against Carolina.
RALEIGH, NC -- New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said that forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be a game-time decision for Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pageau, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins in their regular-season finale on Wednesday, did not practice when the Islanders hit the ice for their final practice before heading to Raleigh.
In his place was rookie Kyle MacLean, whose been a key reason the Islanders are in the playoffs. He's been tenacious, positionally sound, and has been this year's Hudson Fasching, giving Roy no reason to take him out of the lineup.
With MacLean elevated, we saw Cal Clutterbuck center Matt Martin and Simon Holmstrom, a spot former Islanders head coach Lane Lambert used Clutterbuck in once or twice earlier this season.
The Islanders did not skate on Saturday morning, but we did speak with Roy to get an update on Pageau.
"He's still day to day with a lower-body injury. We will know after warm-ups. He will be a game-time decision," Roy said.
The Hockey News followed up by asking Roy how much confidence he had in using Clutterbuck as a center in the playoffs.
"It's an option, but right now, it's Holmstrom at center," Roy said. "He's playing with Clutter and Marty, so two very smart players and veterans. It'll help the kid."
As for the confidence level in MacLean, centering Anders Lee and Pierre Engvall, Roy couldn't be more confident.
"You watch the last two games?" Roy asked. "He's been outstanding against Pittsburgh and against Jersey. He scored a big goal, made a great play on Simon's goal. He's been playing really well defensively. So, I got a lot of confidence in him."
Not having Pageau could be a major dagger for the Islanders in this series, especially in the face-off dot and the penalty kill.
The 31-year-old has won 55.4 percent of his face-offs this season to lead New York and has played 155:54 minutes shorthanded, which also leads New York.
The Hurricanes had the second-best power play in the regular season at 26.9 percent.
Not having Pageau certainly hurt an already weak penalty kill, which finished the season second-worst in the NHL at 71.5 percent.
"He's a huge part of our team, not only in the faceoff circle, but I mean everywhere else, penalty kill, and he's on the power play and stuff, so hopefully he's going to be in tonight," Bo Horvat said. "if he's not in, guys are just gonna have to step up and fill that void. So, guys have stepped up all year and played the way they need to play when guys have been out, but hopefully, he's gonna be ready to go."
Puck drop for Game 1 is at 5 PM ET with warmups at 4:30, and that's when we will know if Pageau is in.
If not, as Horvat said, it's next man up.