The New York Islanders faced a tough setback on Tuesday night as they lost defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a lower-body injury during their matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. DeAngelo, known for his puck-moving prowess, is in his second season with the Islanders and has been a key depth player, tallying 5 goals and 28 assists over 71 games this season.
Post-game, head coach Patrick Roy mentioned that DeAngelo would undergo further evaluation on Wednesday. His absence left the Islanders with a five-man defensive rotation, including Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech, Carson Soucy, Adam Boqvist, and Scott Mayfield.
The short-handed defense struggled, contributing to a 4-3 loss to a Blackhawks team that sits outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference. This was a disappointing result for the Islanders, who had just secured a vital 1-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday to bolster their playoff hopes.
However, Tuesday's loss, combined with Columbus securing a win over Philadelphia, means the Islanders have lost the ground they gained. They now find themselves tied with Ottawa for the final wild card spot, but the Senators hold a game in hand.
Additionally, the Islanders trail Pittsburgh by a point for third place in the Metropolitan Division. As the playoff race intensifies, every game becomes crucial for the Islanders' postseason aspirations.