The Islanders have lost three straight games by a score of 2-1 to opponents currently outside the playoff cutoff (and some way outside the cutoff).
Travis Hamonic missed last night’s less-than-scintillating defeat to the Panthers with a lower body injury that Dr. Jack Capuano said would keep him out, “a couple of games.” The team made that official today by placing Hamonic on injured reserve (retroactive to Saturday) and recalling defenseman Scott Mayfield from Bridgeport.
Hamonic hasn’t practiced with his teammates in three days so whatever mysterious ailment is bothering him must require some rest.
Mayfield is making his second trip to the big club this year, having played three games across November and December. He also went on a little mini scoring tear in that time, netting a goal and two assists for three points, half as many points as he has in 23 AHL games this season.
Adam Pelech was already recalled from the Sound Tigers to play in Hamonic’s stead last night, and was paired with Nick Leddy. Pelech is himself just only returning from injury, so Mayfield is probably more of an extra for the team’s road trip from Sunrise to Raleigh to Boston over the next few days. But with Capuano steaming mad at some of his veterans after another lackluster performance that left points on the table, who knows what kinds of lineups we’ll see.
Meanwhile in Bridgeport, Ryan Pulock is skating but not yet ready to return from his own lower body injury (a.k.a a broken foot) that he sustained in October.
tl;dr Isles can’t score, can’t win and now Hamonic’s hurt. Other than that, everything’s great.