Micheal Haley gets call after flu fells 2 regulars
Micheal Haley of the New York Islanders skates against the Florida Panthers. (Feb. 21, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas were the latest flu victims on the Islanders' roster, forcing some changes among the forwards. Michael Grabner returned after missing three games -- two with the flu, one as a healthy scratch -- and Micheal Haley was recalled from Bridgeport Saturday.
Haley, a physical fan favorite, had played only seven games with the Isles this season, and none since Dec. 26. He was ejected four seconds into his first shift that night at Madison Square Garden after drawing an instigator and a game misconduct for starting a fight with the Rangers' Stu Bickel.
But Haley has been playing well in the Sound Tigers' system, with four goals and an assist in his last three games with Bridgeport. He has 14 goals and eight assists, along with 101 penalty minutes, in 44 games.
He likely will get another game at the Garden Sunday night, given the effect the flu has had on the Isles. Martin and Cizikas almost certainly will need another day or two to recover.
Reese in, Jurcina sits
Dylan Reese played his first game since Feb. 7, with Milan Jurcina a healthy scratch. Reese suffered a sprained knee in Philadelphia and missed a little more than three weeks, then was a healthy scratch for three games before getting back in.
Jurcina is a league-worst minus-29 for the season.
The team signed Mike Halmo, a 20-year-old free agent playing in the Ontario League, to an entry-level deal. Halmo, a 5-10, 190-pound wing, has 40 goals, 44 assists and 148 penalty minutes for Owen Sound in his over-age year of junior hockey.
