With Alexander Romanov out for Game 1, the New York Islanders are relying heavily on rookie Samuel Bolduc, who is partaking in his first Stanley Cup Playoffs

The New York Islanders are heading into the postseason and have an added boost with the return of dynamic forward Mathew Barzal.

But it's not all sunshine and rainbows for Lane Lambert's group, as defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body, day-to-day) will not be ready for Game 1 on Monday.

That means rookie Samuel Bolduc will be tasked with playing in his first NHL Stanley Cup Playoff game after just 17 regular season affairs.

"It's really exciting," Bolduc said. "I mean, just the last game of the season, the crowd was really loud. So it's really exciting to hear that."

The former second-round pick had two separate stints with New York this season, and more often than not played well.

He was initially recalled due to an injury to defenseman Noah Dobson, playing four games in his absence.

In his first 58:08 minutes in the league, he showed tremendous poise, and at six-foot-four, 220 pounds, Bolduc showed an unwillingness to back down from anyone. 

"I like his size. I like his reach. I like his poise with the puck," Lambert said after Bolduc's first five NHL games. "Certainly, as we saw and witnessed when he gets into people, the play gets ended."

After sitting upon Dobson's return, he was given a spot start against the Seattle Kraken on Feb. 7, where he scored his first NHL goal as he just let one go from the point as he watched the puck sneak in.

When there was a shooting lane, Bolduc had no issue getting his shot off. 

He also made heads-up plays in the defensive zone to help with breakouts, always keeping his head on swivel, always appearing to be ready to make the next play with speed and accuracy.

"My passing ability has always been good for me, and it shows a little bit, like once you know where the guys are going to be, it makes it easier for breakouts and even in the offensive zone," Bolduc said.

But during Bolduc's second stint, when Sebastian Aho got hurt and now Romanov, Bolduc had dealt with some growing pains. 

There are two games in particular where Bolduc stood out for the wrong reasons.

On Mar. 27, a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, Bolduc did not take another shift after leaving the ice with 12:41 to go in the third.

Due to the Devils' speed, Bolduc seemed overwhelmed, as he turned the puck over a few times and just looked uneasy on too many of his shifts. 

In the regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens, Bolduc did not take a shift after leaving the ice following Nick Suzuki's shorthanded marker with 3:22 to play in the second.

Bolduc, getting power-play minutes, had the ability to get back and box Suzuki out as the puck dribbled through the slot in front of Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin but was a bit lazy on the play.

That goal put the Canadiens within one in a game that New York had to have.

"He was beat up the ice. He could have maintained body position on Suzuki and didn't," Lambert said. "There's a young player learning and growing, and he will learn from those situations."

One NHL scout told The Hockey News that Bolduc "hasn't impressed on the NHL level yet. Still getting used to the pace of the game, which is quick for him," and that he "needs to keep it simple as he gains experience here in the postseason."

At Friday's practice, the Islanders' first of the postseason, Bolduc was out early working with former Islander and current employee Dennis Seidenberg and skills coach Troy Stevens.

He remained on the ice well after practice ended. 

On Saturday, Bolduc spoke about his mistake and what he learned.

"Just don't take anything for granted. I thought I would have had a bit more time, and yeah, I guess I should have looked back a little bit quicker and seen where it was," Bolduc said. "It's gonna be a great learning experience."

Lambert understands that young players will make mistakes, as does everyone, but you have to learn from them. 

"He's a young guy who's learning," Lambert said. "We always hope that any player who makes mistakes and everyone does in every game at some point or another rebound from it. So that's going to be an important thing."

Lambert does find comfort in the fact that last time the Islanders faced Carolina at PNC Arena, the home of Game 1, Bolduc played rather well in a 2-1 loss on Apr. 2. 

"If you look at the last game we played in Carolina, I thought he was very good at moving the puck. So maybe one of our best guys, so there's a familiarity with that building for him."

In that game, 13:50 TOI, Bolduc kept things simple. He moved the puck with a purpose and used his body effectively- how he needs to play in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Obviously, the games are going to be a bit more physical, I would say. Given my size, it's probably one part of the game I can handle very well," Bolduc said. "So yeah, just keep moving the puck quick and be physical, we me, an and everything will be fine."

Lambert spoke further on the importance of physicality. 

"Playoffs are physical, and it's not so much hitting as much as it is battling," Lambert said. "You know, battles down below the net or in the corner or whatever. So having a guy with size and having a guy with a battle level is very important."

On the season. Bolduc notched two goals on 20 shots, with an assist in 14:24 minutes per game, along with 16 blocks and 26 hits.

"It's a tough task sometimes as a young guy coming in, in some pretty big moments, where we were at, what we were fighting for," defenseman Ryan Pulock told THN. "I thought he did a pretty good job. I mean, you're going to have ups and downs. It's kind of how it goes a little bit sometimes when you're young and trying to figure it out. 

"But, I thought at times he kept it really simple, made some really good plays, and did some good job defensively."

There is no timetable for when Romanov will be able to return after missing the final five games of the regular reason. He has been skating on his own for the last few days.

Until he gets back, Samuel Bolduc will need to be a force for New York, and it may help that he has numerous teammates who have been in this situation before.

"Playoffs are another animal. I mean, it's fun. It's great. The game changes a little bit when it comes to playoff time, and you have to learn quickly, and you do," Pulock said. 

"I think it's good to be able to rely on  some guys that have been there before who have some past experiences and maybe just help you get comfortable when you're diving in."