Islanders send Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang to Bridgeport

The Islanders made the bulk of their roster cuts Thursday, with promising forward prospects Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang in a group sent to Bridgeport of the AHL.

Among the 29 players still in the Isles’ camp are Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, a pair of 19-year-olds pushing to open the season in the NHL. With one more preseason game Sunday in Washington before rosters must be set in anticipation of next Thursday’s season opener against the Rangers, the two teenagers will get another chance to show they belong.

“There’s a couple guys that have given us a reason to keep them around, not to let them go,” Jack Capuano said Wednesday night after the Islanders’ 3-2 preseason win over the Devils. “That’s what you’re looking for. It’s their decision on what they’ll bring to the table and make it tough on us, and that’s what they’ve done.”

Beauvillier scored the winning goal Wednesday night, his first of the preseason, and Barzal is the Isles’ leading scorer through the first seven preseason games.

The Islanders can keep both for up to nine games before deciding whether to send them back to their junior teams, but they would take up roster spots if they stay and the Isles need to get down to 23 players by Tuesday.

In addition to Ho-Sang and Dal Colle, the Islanders sent forward Ross Johnston, defensemen Devon Toews, Jesse Graham, Matt Finn and Kyle Burroughs and goaltenders Christopher Gibson and Stephon Williams to Bridgeport.

Defenseman Scott Mayfield, who signed a one-way contract this summer, was placed on waivers. If he clears waivers, he’ll head to Bridgeport. The Islanders also released Steve Bernier, Colin Markison and Tanner Fritz from their tryout agreements.