The New York Islanders’ rebuilt first line lasted fewer than five games.
The Islanders will be without left winger Anthony Duclair Tuesday night when New York hosts the Detroit Red Wings in Elmont, N.Y.
Both teams have been off since winning Saturday night, when the Islanders outlasted the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a nine-round shootout and the Red Wings beat the host Nashville Predators, 5-2.
The victory was a costly one for the Islanders, who lost Duclair to a right leg injury early in the third period. Duclair fell in awkward fashion while darting towards the Canadiens’ net and was helped off the ice by Bo Horvat.
Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said Monday that Duclair’s injury isn’t season-ending but is “…more long-term than short-term at this point.”
Duclair was signed to a four-year deal in July with the hopes he’d provide an offensive upgrade for the Islanders, who had the second-fewest goals of any playoff team last season (246) and the fewest goals of a playoff team in 2022-23 (243). The 29-year-old, who skates with center Horvat and right winger Mathew Barzal, had two goals and an assist in the first five games.
Head coach Patrick Roy said he wasn’t sure yet who would replace Duclair in Tuesday’s lineup. A quintet of players — centers Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri and right wingers Maxim Tsyplakov and Simon Holmstrom — saw time on the top line with Horvat and Barzal following Duclair’s injury.
“Injuries (stink), there’s no doubt about it, but at the same time, it gives a chance to someone to step in and have a different role on the team, basically, and maybe a different responsibility,” Roy said Monday.
While it’s still only late October, the win Saturday night was a timely one for the Red Wings, who have missed the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons — the longest drought in franchise history. Each of Detroit’s first three losses have been by three goals, including a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers from Oct. 14-17.
The Red Wings were in danger of falling behind 2-0 with 9:13 left in the first period Saturday, but coach Derek Lalonde challenged Colton Sissons’ goal, which was overturned because Nashville was offsides.
“That was huge,” Lalonde said. “We’ve lost two in a row, so we are a little fragile. Going down 2-0 in this environment would have been tough.”
Vladimir Tarasenko scored about three minutes later for the Red Wings, whose five goals were a season high. Detroit scored nine goals in its first four games combined.
Andrew Copp scored the game-winner 3:29 into the third before Simon Edvinsson and Copp added empty-netters in the final 77 seconds as Detroit dropped Nashville to 0-5-0.
“They are obviously a desperate team, so we came in desperate ourselves,” goalie Alex Lyon said after recording 37 saves.
–Field Level Media
