Islanders: Adam Pelech Scratched For Game 6

Adam Pelech will be scratched for Game 6 after being deemed unfit to play. The Islanders will roll six defensemen without him.

Oh boy. Adam Pelech did not take the ice for the Islanders in warmups and appears to be a scratch. An absolute brutal blow for this Isles team who is playing for their lives here in Game 6 trying to extend the series.

First Casey Cizikas and now it’s Adam Pelech. We saw what happened during the regular season when Pelech was gone and now the Isles will have to overcome these two losses in the most important game of the season.

Pelech has played 21 games for Barry Trotz in the playoffs this year averaging 22:26 per game with 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists). Without a doubt, he’s their most defensive defenseman and the Isles are in trouble trying to figure out how to plug that massive hole.

During the regular season, in games, Pelech played the Islanders went 25-10-3. Without Pelech in the lineup, 10-13-7 was the Islanders record.

Now, expect to see the Isles reunite the Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk pair that was the Isles top pair from 2014-2015 through 2018. Granted, neither player is the guy they were half a decade ago but they have chemistry and might be able to survive as the team’s second pair.

Ryan Pulock will likely play with Andy Greene while Devon Toews and Scott Mayfield remain together as the third pair.

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I wouldn’t be surprised if Barry changes the d-pairs up a bunch in this game and tries to keep Ryan Pulock out against the Lightning’s top pair. It’s not going to be easy tonight, and it just got a little more difficult with the Pelech news.

Update: Dobson in and Dal Colle out. The Isles will roll 11F/7D