Islanders Win Over Penguins Despite Injuries to Romanov, Boqvist

The New York Islanders are facing a challenging season marked by injuries and illnesses, which coach Patrick Roy described as 'weird.' Adam Pelech returned to the lineup for a crucial game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, while defenseman Alexander Romanov was sidelined due to illness. This season has seen all six opening-night defensemen miss significant playing time, prompting the team to bring in additional defensemen like Tony DeAngelo. Pelech, who had previously missed time with a jaw injury, skated a season-high 26 minutes in his return and was instrumental in the team's recent comeback win against the Florida Panthers. The Islanders are currently four points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, highlighting the impact of their ongoing injury issues on their performance. With players like Mike Reilly also returning from long-term injuries, the team is trying to regain stability as they push for a playoff position.