ISLANDERS PRACTICE: Michael Dal Colle Still Day-to-Day

Michael Dal Colle was on the ice on Wednesday at Northwell Health Ice Center in suburban Long Island, but the forward remains day-to-day with an injury.

New York Islanders head coach Barry did say that Michael Dal Colle was getting “real close” to returning to the lineup. Dal Colle has missed the last three games with an injury after blocking a shot against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 16.

The Islanders begin a stretch on Thursday where they will play three games over the next four days. First will be a game against the Boston Bruins on Long Island and then they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday and Sunday.

If the Islanders were thinking of trying to rest certain players during that stretch, it would be difficult considering some of the roster constraints.

“Every team is going to go with their core group,” Trotz said. You’re probably just going to touch the fringes if you can. We’ll see where MDC is. We’ll see if we do anything with goaltenders. On the weekend, I expect probably a split. I take it as a game-to-game basis. We sort of have a plan in place and this year it’s been everything from cancellations to just strange things, so we’ll react.”

Prior to the injury, Michael Dal Colle had been going through a bit of a renaissance for the Islanders. Placed on a line with Jordan Eberle, the two had created chemistry with one another that resulted in a pretty productive second line.