Islanders defenseman back skating with team

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov is apparently back skating with the team ahead of their Game 3 matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News wrote that Romanov rotated in and out of line rushes and the penalty kills, but little is being said about whether the 23-year-old will return for Game 3. Romanov suffered an upper-body injury on April 1 and missed the final five games of the regular season as well as games one and two of the Islanders opening round series.

Romanov had a successful first season with the Islanders after being acquired from Montreal via trade last summer. He set a career-high in points with 22 in 76 games and fit in nicely on the team’s penalty kill. His 22 points were the highest point total he has posted at any level and could be a jumping-off point for the Russian rearguard in upcoming seasons.

The Islanders didn’t acquire the 215-pound defenseman for his offense though, they acquired him to play hard hockey this time of year and so far, he has been unable to get back into game action. The Islanders could certainly use Romanov in the lineup as rookie Samuel Bolduc has struggled as his replacement and was benched in game two. Should Romanov miss game three, it appears as though Parker Wotherspoon would draw in to replace him instead of Bolduc.

The 25-year-old Wotherspoon dressed in 12 games in his first NHL season, notching just a single assist. He could offer the Islanders a different look on the backend as they return home and try to climb back into their first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Islanders trail 2-0 after losing both games by one goal.