The Islanders could soon have Alexander Romanov back in the fold.
Romanov skated with the team for the first time on Friday morning ahead of Game 3 against the Hurricanes, sounding optimistic afterwards about his chances of playing.
“I feel ready to go,” he said, “but I still don’t know if I will play or not, or [Parker Wotherspoon] will play.”
Romanov suffered an upper-body injury on April 1 in Tampa and has not played since.
Without him, the Islanders have heavily rotated their defensive pairs in lieu of consistent partnerships, and they’ve sorely missed Romanov’s physicality and steadiness on the back end.
His return would mark the first time the Islanders have been fully healthy (minus Oliver Wahlstrom, who is out for the season) since well before Bo Horvat was acquired at the end of January.
Though they’ve rarely suffered a glut of injuries at the same time, Adam Pelech, Kyle Palmieri, Cal Clutterbuck, Mathew Barzal and Romanov have all been out at various points since Palmieri got hurt in Toronto on Nov. 21.
“That was my first wish when I was out,” Romanov said of rejoining the team. “Just I’m so happy. So excited.”
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The Islanders said that Romanov traveled with the team for Raleigh in Games 1 and 2, however, the 23-year-old was not spotted at the arena.
An Islanders spokesman cut off a question on Friday about where he watched the Games 1 and 2 and, although the team said he skated in Raleigh, he did not do so at PNC Arena and the organization refused to disclose the location.
“So nervous, so nervous,” Romanov said of watching the games. “Can’t even watch the game, but still want to see how my partners play. Tough time, but we should keep going.”
Also of note is that Wotherspoon has jumped Samuel Bolduc — who played Games 1 and 2 — on the Islanders’ depth chart. Wotherspoon last played on Jan. 21 in a 5-2 home loss to Carolina, finishing the season having filled in 12 times.
Going into Game 3, Bo Horvat had yet to score in the playoffs and had done so just twice since Feb. 26.
“I don’t see him as pressing,” coach Lane Lambert said. “I think that certainly those types of players, him and [Mathew Barzal], power plays would help, too. But no, I don’t see him as pressing. I see him as playing hard.”
