RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s a big hole to fill, on the ice and in the locker room.
So the Islanders continued to attempt to make up for the loss of defenseman Johnny Boychuk, who predictably blocked a shot in the second period of Game 4 of the opening round against the Penguins on April 16 and has been out since with a lower-body injury.
But things have gotten even tighter since that sweep of Pittsburgh, and Boychuk’s absence has not helped as the Isles brought a 2-0 deficit in their second-round series against the Hurricanes into Game 3 here Wednesday night.