The New York Islanders’ playoff push will have to continue on Sunday afternoon without the services of defenseman Johnny Boychuk.
Coach Doug Weight announced before their game against the Calgary Flames that Boychuk will not be in the lineup due to a lower body injury and will be replaced by Thomas Hickey.
Boychuk played 19 minutes for the Islanders on Friday night in their shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, blocking three shots including one that hit him in the foot and seemed to shake him up a bit.
In 59 games with the Islanders this season Boychuk has six goals and 15 assists for the Islanders while mostly playing on a pairing alongside either Hickey or Nick Leddy. Hickey did not play for the Islanders on Friday in Chicago. He is slated to play alongside Travis Hamonic on Sunday.
The Islanders enter the day occupying the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 71 points.