Eyes On Isles
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Islanders Cal Clutterbuck Game Time Decision For Game 2

By Matt O'Leary

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders is checked by Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders is checked by Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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After leaving with an injury in Game 1, Cal Clutterbuck will be a game-time decision for Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders.

Game 1 was a game to forget for the New York Islanders. As for Cal Clutterbuck, he is hoping that he’ll be able to play in Game 2 tonight after blocking a shot and being unable to return on Wednesday night.

According to Barry Trotz, Clutterbuck will be a game-time decision on whether he will be inserted into the lineup or not. He also alleged that there could be other changes made to the lineup.

Operating under the assumption that Cal isn’t good to go, the Isles do have some solid options that could be put into the lineup. Leo Komarov, who played 48 games during the regular season with 14 points, has played in 12 playoff games this year.

He has three points in 12:13 of ice time. I’d assume Komarov would be first to get the call if Clutter isn’t ready for Game 2 tonight.

The Isles also have veteran Tom Kuhnhackl who played three games for the team in the playoffs early on. Last year, Kuhnhackl played all eight games for the Isles in the playoffs but I’d put him just behind Leo Komarov in the pecking order.

A dark horse would be Andrew Ladd. Ladd played just four games during the regular season and has been scratched for each one of these games but he could be the veteran scoring presence that the Isles try to get a spark out of.

I would be pretty surprised if Ladd got the nod, but he is certainly an option as a veteran. As for the youngsters, Michael Dal Colle and Otto Koivula are choices as well. I would think Dal Colle goes in for Johnston though and Johnston is a scratch.

As for Otto, I think I have about as good of a chance of getting in the lineup as he does and I’m currently writing this on Long Island, a seven-hour plane ride away.

Without Clutterbuck, I suspect the lineup to look like:

Lee – Barzal – Eberle

Beauvillier – Nelson – Bailey

Brassard – Pageau – Dal Colle

Martin – Cizikas – Komarov

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If Clutterbuck is good to go, just swap Clutterbuck in for Komarov and that’s what I’d expect for tonight with Thomas Greiss between the pipes.

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