EDMONTON, AB — The good news for the Islanders is that Alexander Romanov returned to practice on Monday. This is a positive sign that the defenseman will be back from his upper body injury sooner rather than later.
The bad news is that he won't be back in time for Tuesday night's game against the Oilers. The Islanders will still need to find a way to slow down the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with less than half the defense. Opening night lineup.
“It's not 100 percent tomorrow,” Romanoff told the Post after the Islanders practiced in Edmonton on Monday. “It's completely unpredictable. [a timeline] Because if I say so, I don't want to be wrong. ”
The good news is that Romanoff, who wore an orange non-contact sweater in practice, traveled to Alberta with the team. That means a return could be considered at some point during the Islanders' five-game trip across the United States – starting Friday and crossing the border with Canada four times before returning home for a week.
“It depends on how I feel. [pain tolerance] And whether the doctors will clear me to play or not,” Romanov said. “It takes time. This injury takes time.”
The concerns Tuesday will be how the Islanders will handle facing McDavid and Draisaitl, and whether 20-year-old Isaiah George, who has been great through his first three NHL games, will endure the toughest test. It's up to you whether you can do it or not. Still to him.
“We don't want them skating with the puck,” coach Patrick Roy said. “As if [Nathan] McKinnon, a top player, [Jack] fuse. The more space they have, the more dangerous they're going to be, and we're going to have to be very good in the neutral zone, and we're going to have to be good in the D-zone as well. They love to own the puck, so we have to do a good job. ”
Since returning from his stint with AHL Bridgeport, Pierre Engvall has continued to wear a neck guard, which is mandatory for all AHL players, becoming the first Islander to do so in a game.
“I don’t care,” Engvall told the Post. “I think a little extra protection is better than nothing. I'm not upset about it. I feel pretty good having it.”
Ilya Sorokin was the first goaltender off the ice at Monday's practice, suggesting he will likely start Tuesday night.
