New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils [Game #28 thread]

“You’re not going to replace Anders Lee...it takes a village...but you want a bigger piece of the pie, everyone wants to be important, so some can step up and make a case for even more ice time.”

Those are some of the phrases used by Barry Trotz when fielding the expected questions about how the Islanders move on with Anders Lee out “indefinitely” or “a little while” with his lower body injury. They’re cliches but they’re all true.

Andrew Gross of Newsday asked if Oliver Wahlstrom might slot into Lee’s slot on the top line, and Trotz re-asserted his trust in the rookie winger, while also noting he “got a little loose” on some defensive coverage lately. “Sometimes younger guys will do that once they start feeling it.”

In seeking a replacement, Trotz said he hopes not to disrupt the other lines. So he’ll look for “rhythm” and also keep an eye on matchups in certain games.

So without the captain, tonight the work of “the committee,” or village, or multi-headed snake begins:

It’s the second of three in a row against the Devils and the first of a back-to-back weekend in Newark.

Get the points now, because things will get much tougher later on (and who knows what other injuries may come for the Islanders, who’ve been {knock on wood} pretty healthy this season.