WASHINGTON — Rookie Kieffer Bellows has added some scoring to the Islanders’ lineup since his call-up. But coach Barry Trotz was looking to match a little bit of the Capitals’ “snarl” on Monday night at Capital One Arena.
So, the coach made Bellows a healthy scratch for the first time since he was brought up from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Burly Ross Johnston, a healthy scratch the previous four games, was reinserted onto Derick Brassard’s third line with Michael Dal Colle.
Bellows logged 11:45 without a shot in Saturday night’s 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay.