Josh Bailey likely out for Thursday in Tampa
The Islanders' Josh Bailey controls the puck after being knocked down against the Montreal Canadiens at Nassau Coliseum. (Apr. 6, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
But Scott Gordon said Bailey (hip flexor) will accompany the Isles on their two-game Florida swing, so he could be ready to return for Saturday's game in Sunrise against the Panthers.
"He saw the doctor today, there's nothing broken -- he's just sore," Gordon said of Bailey, the Isles' co-leading scorer through six games (3-3-6).
Gordon also said Trent Hunter (foot) would accompany the team to Florida as well, though he too is likely to miss Thursday's game with the Lightning.
Bailey, Hunter and Radek Martinek (illness) missed today's practice at the Coliseum.
The Isles' pair of one-armed bandits, Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo, were on hand today, picking up mail and saying their hellos. Both are in slings from shoulder surgeries. Both gave John Tavares lots of praise for the kid's one-timer winner in OT last night.
"Straight cheese," Okposo said.
Tavares said he spent much of the summer working on his one-time shots and was happy to see it pay off.
"I got a lot of texts from my buddies I work out with in the summertime, telling me that it finally paid off," he said. "I wasn't happy with my release a lot of the time last season. In this league, you have to be able to get your shot away quick."
