Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders The New York Islanders may be starting to get over the injury bug, with Alexander Romanov [https://www.theelmonters.com/] expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames. But like every cold, the symptoms go away slowly but surely, as the Islanders are still waiting for Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Adam Pelech to return to the ice. On Monday, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters that Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Adam Pelech have yet to skate since suffering their respective injuries, but he hopes they'll hit the ice soon. These updates mean that the Islanders' depth will continue to be tested for at least a few more weeks. Since Nov. 1, the game in which the Islanders lost Romanov, Pelech, and Mike Reilly—No. 2 is having heart surgery—the Islanders have gone 3-2-2 to sit just one point back of a wild-card spot with two games in hand on the Boston Bruins. In those seven games, the Islanders have had production from the top players, with Anders Lee leading the way with four goals and Brock Nelson with three. But it's important that the depth does its part as well, and so far, the new third line of Pierre Engvall, Casey Cizikas, and Simon Holmstrom has raised its game. Pierre Engvall didn't have any points through his first three games since being recalled from Bridgeport, but once everyone went down, he's been a much stronger performer. In these seven games, Engvall has two goals and two assists for four points. Simon Holmstrom, who had just three assists through the first 11 games of the season, has two goals and three assists for five points. Cizikas only has one point, but he's done a strong job on the forecheck, and his linemates have benefited. The fourth line of Matt Martin (one assist), Kyle MacLean (two assists), and Oliver Wahlstrom (one goal, one assist) have struggled. The blue-line depth has been the most tested. Through the first 11 games of the season, the Islanders' defense only had one goal to its name, coming from then-seventh defenseman Dennis Cholowski, with 17 points. Noah Dobson led the way in points with six assists. That's 1.55 points a game for Tommy Albelin's crew. Over the last seven games, the defense has combined for 12 points, 1.74 points per game. Scott Mayfield and Dobson added goals in their 5-2 beatdown of the Vancouver Canucks, with Ryan Pulock leading the way with four points (four assists) while playing his off-side. Grant Hutton and Dennis Cholowski, who have served as the bottom-pairing, have done exactly what Patrick Roy needed them to do. Isaiah George [https://www.theelmonters.com/p/islanders-rookie-isaiah-george-is], the 20-year-old rookie, hasn't been perfect through his first six NHL games but has shown to be more than just a fill-in. Given the news that Mike Reilly will be out for a while after he undergoes heart surgery, the Islanders don't have to worry too much about filling his role, as George has risen to the occasion. The Islanders have relied on goaltending a tad too much this season, but that's what happens when an NHL lineup is missing key pieces. Goalies need to steal points, and both have played a part. While Ilya Sorokin got off to a magnificent start this season, with a 2.00 GAA and a .928 SV% through his first six starts, he hasn't been as effective over his last five starts, going 1-2-2 with a 3.51 GAA and an .898 SV%. Although he's lost his last three starts, he and Anders Lee were the sole reason the Islanders earned a point against the Edmonton Oilers earlier in the trip. It's been the opposite story for backup Semyon Varlamov, who struggled in the early going of the season, with a 3.21 GAA and an .876 SV% through his first five games. But over his last two starts, with Sorokin starting every three of four at this point, Varlamov has been brilliant, with two wins and a 2.00 GAA, and a .929 SV%. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwODEyMDU5MjE3MDQ1MzI5/usatsi_24764732.jpg] The Islanders went 4-5-2 through the first 11 games for 10 points (.455 P%) before getting ransacked by injuries. Over their last seven, they are 3-2-2 with eight points (.571 P%). The Islanders have two games remaining on their season-long six-game road trip. They'll battle the Calgary Flames at 9 PM ET on Tuesday before battling the Red Wings in Detroit on Thursday night at 7 PM ET.
