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This jeered Islander knows this chance may be his last

Sports

Islanders defenseman Brian Strait gets tripped up by Ladislav Smid of the Flames.

Brian Strait had a good analogy that brings home the situation he’s in as the Islanders’ third-pair defenseman, constantly under the microscope with a handful of young prospects poised and ready to take his spot in the lineup in the blink of an eye.

“As a player, it’s hard not to, but you try not to concentrate on that stuff too much,” Strait said Thursday morning before a game against the Hurricanes at Barclays Center.

“I mean, it’s like in your job, if you bring in somebody [and say], ‘Oh, we have this other guy who does the exact same thing as you, so be on the edge of your seat or you’re going to be out of here.