Islanders’ defensemen Nick Leddy and Ryan Pulock both injured
Ryan Pulock #6 of the New York Islanders plays the puck during the first period against the against Arizona Coyotes at Barclays Center on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 in Brooklyn, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Nick Leddy missed Friday’s game with an upper-body injury and the Isles’ top-scoring defenseman the last two seasons is likely out for Sunday’s game against the Wild at Barclays Center as well.
“He’s day to day but we’ll have to see how he is tomorrow,” Jack Capuano said.
Leddy played in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Sharks and was on the ice for San Jose’s game-winning goal with 2:11 to play. He missed practice on Thursday and likely would need at least one full practice before the Isles put him back in the lineup.
His replacement, Ryan Pulock, didn’t last the first period on Friday, leaving with a lower-body injury after playing just five shifts following his recall from Bridgeport.
That likely means Adam Pelech is next to get the call if Leddy, as expected, can’t return Sunday. Pelech played for the Sound Tigers in Allentown on Friday night and played seven games last season for the Islanders.
Leddy scored the Isles’ first goal of the season, in the third period of their 5-3 opening-night loss to the Rangers. But he and regular partner Travis Hamonic have been on the ice for six of the nine even-strength goals the Isles had allowed entering Friday’s game.
Barzal scratched again
Mathew Barzal was a healthy scratch for the fourth time this season and it may be time for the Islanders to decide whether to keep the 19-year-old center here or send him back to Seattle of the Western League if he’s so far down the depth chart.
“That’s something Garth (Snow) and I need to discuss,” Capuano said. “He can’t play wing and we’ve got John (Tavares), Stromie (Ryan Strome), Brock (Nelson) and Casey (Cizikas) down the middle. We’ll try to get (Barzal) in here soon.”
Anthony Beauvillier played his fourth game of the Isles’ five and picked up his second assist on Strome’s first-period goal, giving Beauvillier three points on the season.
