Sebastian Aho returns to Islanders' lineup, but Alexander Romanov is sidelined
Sebastian Aho #25 of the Islanders skates during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at UBS Arena on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
RALEIGH, N.C. — Defenseman Sebastian Aho returned to the Islanders’ lineup for Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
But that doesn’t mean the Islanders’ defense corps is fully healthy.
Alexander Romanov was out of the lineup for just the second time this season — he missed a 4-0 win over the visiting Kraken on Feb. 7 for the birth of his first child — after appearing to hurt his left arm in Saturday night’s 5-0 road loss to the Lightning. Coach Lane Lambert confirmed Romanov is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
He exited to the dressing room at 12:23 of the second period on Saturday after tangling with Corey Perry during a scrum at the Islanders’ crease. But Romanov returned to start the third period and logged 19:43.
Aho logged 16:49 against the Hurricanes with three shots after missing six games with an upper-body injury. He took a high hit from the Sharks’ Kevin Labanc on March 18.
“I thought he played pretty well,” Lambert said.
Aho has five goals and 16 assists in 67 games.
Romanov’s absence allowed rookie Samuel Bolduc to remain in the lineup for the seventh straight game despite Aho’s return. Aho skated with Ryan Pulock and Bolduc remained with Noah Dobson.
Isles files
Right wing Josh Bailey logged 13:36 without a shot after being a healthy scratch the past three games and in seven of the last eight. He skated on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s line with Zach Parise . . . Right wing Simon Holmstrom, who had just one point — a goal — in his last 14 games, was a healthy scratch after logging 12:24 with one shot against the Lightning . . . Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and left wing Ross Johnston remained healthy scratches . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield blocked a game-high four shots . . . Defenseman Adam Pelech logged a game-high 25:28, surpassing 25 minutes for the third time in five games.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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