Girls Youth Hockey ELMONT, NY -- When the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] took the ice for warmups at UBS Arena, defenseman Alexander Romanov was not on the ice. According to the team, the 24-year-old is sick, and that's why he isn't playing. There would have been a major issue had Romanov been dealing with another upper-body injury or the same one that's kept him out of the lineup for 11 games this season. In Romanov's absence, Scott Mayfield skated with Noah Dobson, with Dobson on the left side. Grant Hutton, who had been serving as a healthy scratch since Romanov returned to the lineup on Nov. 19 against the Calgary Flames. Dobson was forced to play his off side last season when Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho missed time. Puck drop between the Islanders and Red Wings is coming your way at 7:30 PM ET.
