Jonathan Drouin was a surprise scratch for the Islanders during Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Avalanche with a lower-body injury and is considered day to day.
Drouin was on the ice for the morning skate with no indication that he would not play later in the evening.
Marc Gatcomb came back into the lineup to play his second game this season, slotting in on the fourth line.
Jonathan Drouin is pictured during the Islanders’ Nov. 30 game. NHLI via Getty Images
Max Tsyplakov moved up to the second line on the right side of Mathew Barzal — Drouin’s spot.
The Islanders were already without Jean-Gabriel Pageau (upper body) and Kyle Palmieri (left ACL) in their forward corps, so another injury stretches the forward group to its breaking point, even if it’s not too serious.
Pageau is expected to travel with the team to Florida over the weekend, though Patrick Roy did not sound optimistic he would play against the Lightning or Panthers.
What was already going to be a tough weekend trip will be a lot tougher if Drouin remains out.