The Islanders' Trent Hunter, left, will be out indefinitely with...

The Islanders' Trent Hunter, left, will be out indefinitely with an MCL tear. Credit: Getty Images

Trent Hunter is out indefinitely with a Grade 3 MCL tear in his left knee.

Hunter, who missed his fifth game because of injury, had an MRI Friday on the knee that he injured in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Columbus.

After scoring his first goal of the season earlier in the game, Hunter was injured while delivering a big hit along the boards on Anton Stralman with six minutes to play in the third.

The Islanders did not elaborate on their course of action with Hunter.

To replace him, veteran Jon Sim was recalled from Bridgeport on an emergency basis. Sim, who has played 16 games for the Islanders this season, played 15:30 Friday.

Power-play outage

Although a spectacular third-period penalty-kill lifted the special teams, the Islanders have not scored a power-play goal since Nov. 6 against the Flyers.

After three failed attempts Friday, the Islanders are 0-for-29 with the man-advantage in the last eight games.

"I just think we're trying to be too cute right now," interim coach Jack Capuano said. "We've just got to get better at getting pucks to the net."

Isles files

The Islanders blocked 27 shots in front of Rick DiPietro, with defensemen Mark Eaton and James Wisniewski stopping six each . . . Islanders captain Doug Weight missed his fourth straight game with back spasms.

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