This was already shaping up as a difficult week for the New York Islanders. Then Alexander Romanov went down against the New York Rangers with a torn ACL, and suddenly Thursday night’s Blackhawks vs Islanders matchup at UBS Arena looked even more awkward for a team that can ill afford more damage.
The Islanders lost 5-2 to the Rangers on Tuesday, but the scoreline is almost secondary to the injury fallout. Romanov will miss six to eight months after suffering the ACL injury, which is a brutal setback for a defenseman who had already missed most of last season following shoulder surgery. That is not just bad luck. That is a roster problem that keeps coming back to haunt them.
A defence already under pressure
Romanov’s absence matters because the Islanders were already leaning on a defensive group that needed stability, not more improvisation. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock remain key pieces, while Scott Mayfield, Tony DeAngelo, Logan Stanley and Matthew Schaefer are among the names in the mix to help absorb the loss. None of that changes the basic reality: losing Romanov is a major hit to the blue line, especially with the season still young enough that every structural issue gets magnified.
And then there is the other headache. Mat Barzal, described as the Islanders’ most dynamic offensive player, is still missing too. He did skate on his own for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Thursday morning, which at least gives the Islanders a small reason for optimism. But skating alone is not the same thing as being ready to drive an offence that badly needs a spark.
The Blackhawks arrive with a little momentum
Chicago will not be arriving as easy prey either. The Blackhawks come in off a 4-2 victory over St. Louis, which is exactly the sort of result that can make a young team a little more annoying to play against. They remain without Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen, so this is hardly a fully loaded visitor. But they have at least shown they can seize an opening when it appears.
That leaves the Islanders in the uncomfortable position of trying to steady themselves while missing one of their regular defenders and their most dangerous forward. It is one thing to talk about depth in October. It is another to actually rely on it when the injuries start stacking up and the answers are far less impressive than the questions.
So yes, the Blackhawks vs Islanders game still matters on the ice. But for New York, the bigger issue is what comes next. Romanov is out for six to eight months, Barzal is still not back, and the Islanders are once again being forced to patch holes instead of building momentum. That is not a position any serious team wants to be in for long.
