SUNRISE, Fla. — Barry Trotz made his first lineup change of the season for the Islanders.
Pesky Leo Komarov, an incongruous regular on Mathew Barzal’s top line during the playoff run to the NHL semifinals, was inserted onto Casey Cizikas’ fourth line as the Islanders faced the Panthers at FLA Live Arena on Saturday night.
"Just for necessity and also a little spark," Trotz said.
Ross Johnston played in Matt Martin’s spot on the identity line in Thursday’s season-opening 6-3 loss at Carolina on Thursday night but logged a game-low 5:50. Johnston fell out of the regular rotation with an abundance of special teams’ time — he plays on neither the power play nor the penalty kill — and then with the Islanders playing from behind.