NEW YORK (AP) — New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will be out for five to six months following surgery on his right shoulder, the team said Sunday.
The injury to the 25-year-old Romanov occurred Tuesday in Dallas in the final minute of regulation when he was hit from behind by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. The Islanders won the game 3-2.
Romanov had to be helped from the ice and the team placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday. Romanov has one assist in 15 games this season. He signed an eight-year, $50 million contract last summer.
“He’s not happy,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said before Sunday's home game against Seattle. “We have to move on. We don’t replace a player like that.”
Roy said the team would rely on Adam Boqvist and Marshall Warren in place of the speedy Romanov. The Islanders won six of seven games on their just-completed trip before losing 2-1 to St. Louis at home on Saturday.
“You hope that the guys coming in will fit it and hopefully that Boqvist will play like he’s been playing,” Roy said of his defense corps, which has been bolstered by 18-year-old rookie standout Matthew Schaefer.
Rantanen received a five-minute boarding penalty and game misconduct, but no additional discipline from the league for the hit on Romanov. He was suspended for one game earlier Sunday following a hit on Calgary’s Matt Caronato during Saturday’s game, 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames.
Roy was furious after Rantanen’s hit on Romanov and yelled at the Dallas player as he went to the locker room through a tunnel between the benches.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended his player because he believed Rantanen's skate was clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, causing him to raise his arms for balance just before contact with Romanov.
Rantanen said he did not intend to injure Romanov. He is in his first full season with Dallas after getting traded twice last season.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Allan Kreda, The Associated Press
