News: NY Islanders Josh Bailey out with an upper-body injury

The NY Islanders seem to be going through another spell of injuries as of late. On Thursday, the Islanders announced that J.G. Pageau was placed on the injured reserve retro-active to Feb. 11th with an unspecified lower-body injury. That came after Casey Cizikas was ruled out earlier in the week with an illness, however, Cizikas was good to go the next day. Pageau is eligible to return on Saturday against the Boston Bruins but has been been ruled out of the Islanders five o'clock matchup with the Bruins per head coach Lane Lambert. Also ruled out of Saturday's game is the longest tenured Islander, Josh Bailey.

It hasn't exactly been the best season for Bailey. The 33-year-old winger is nearing the end of his six-year, $30 million contract that Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello seemingly couldn't move last summer. Following the 2022-23 season, he'll have just one year left on his deal. This season, Bailey has accrued just six goals and 21 points in 54 games.

Bailey has been ruled out of Saturday's contest with an upper-body injury. He didn't play the third period during the Islanders Friday night matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bailey finished the game totaling just 7:38 of time on ice.

The Islanders recalled Andy Andreoff as the replacement for Pageau to play on the fourth line with Matt Martin and Hudson Fashing while Cizikas centers the third line. There was no recall following the announcement that Bailey will be out on Saturday, so the Islanders only options against Boston is to dress Ross Johnston, or 11 forwards and seven defenseman. Samuel Bolduc was returned to the Bridgeport Islanders on Feb.13th, therefore the Islanders only option to dress a seventh defenseman will be Parker Wotherspoon. Wotherspoon last played on January 21st against the Carolina Hurricanes. In 12 games this season, Wotherspoon has just one assist.