GLENDALE, Ariz.— The only lineup shuffle Islanders coach Barry Trotz was forced to make for Tuesday night’s game against the Coyotes at Gila River Arena was inserting defenseman Luca Sbisa for the injured Thomas Hickey.
Top-line center Brock Nelson was able to play after taking defenseman Ian Cole’s knee to his thigh in Monday night’s 4-1 win in Colorado.
Hickey, appearing dazed, exited the game with an upper-body issue at 17:26 when he went hard into the side boards back first and could have suffered either a head or neck injury. The Islanders did not update his status on Tuesday other than Trotz saying he was being evaluated.