COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a simple addition of necessity, but, just as the Islanders preached, they only needed a little push to get things back on track.
So no, Tanner Fritz joining the club after his call-up from AHL Bridgeport on Thursday was not a game-changer. But by replacing Valtteri Filppula, out four weeks with an apparent left-shoulder injury, Fritz helped the Islanders become marginally faster. That speed helped them sweep the weekend back-to-back over the Flyers and Coyotes, and allowed them to come into Tuesday night’s matchup against John Tortorella’s desperate Blue Jackets with some confidence.