Islanders projected lines against Detroit Red Wings after latest injuries

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Right? That's how the New York Islanders have to approach this game against the Detroit Red Wings at home.

Over the Islanders last ten games they've gone 7-2-1, the second-best record in the Metropolitan Division. I'm not saying that to give you some sort of post-season hopes, but to show you the Islanders are truly not "broke". So the approach that Barry Trotz has to take is "run it again".

New York Islanders projected lines against Detroit Red Wings

That means all four lines and pairs should remain the same except for one change:

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier
Bailey-Pageau-Palmieri
Parise-Barzal-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Johnston

Chara-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
Greene-****

The Islanders announced that both Cal Clutterbuck and Scott Mayfield will be out for a while. Clutterbuck is out indefinitely while Mayfield is out 4-6 weeks. Mayfield blocked a slapshot with the inside of this foot against the Ottawa Senators and was in pain on the bench. Now we know it wasn't just some "owie".

Ross Johnston will take Cal's spot in the lineup. A spot he occupied the last time the Islanders were out.

In terms of a Scott Mayfield replacement, there hasn't been word from the Islanders - either the NHL or AHL team - who will take his spot. My expectation is that Grant Hutton gets the call-up.

Hutton has already played five games for the Isles this year and did well near the end of that five-game stint. Of late, Hutton (a right-shot defenseman) has four points in his last night games for the Bridgeport Islanders. He's also picked up goals in back-to-back games now.

Some will say Robin Salo or Parker Wotherspoon should get the call-up, and while I don't disagree, Salo hasn't been a standout player for the Bridgeport Islanders lately while Hutton has and Wotherspoon has missed the last five games so I doubt he's available.

We'll wait to see what happens there on the blue line.

In nets, Barry Trotz will certainly continue his goalie rotation with Ilya Sorokin getting the start.