The Islanders still haven’t made a trade to improve themselves as they try to stay in the playoff hunt, but with coach Scott Gordon bemoaning the team’s lack of physicality, they should have a new face on the ice when they visit Philadelphia today (1 p.m., MSG Plus, WHLI 1100 AM).
In calling up the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Trevor Gillies from Bridgeport, the Isles add size to the lineup as they look to break a three-game slide in the second of a four-game trip.
The winger has played in just one NHL game. In 2005-06, he dressed for Anaheim and accumulated 21 penalty minutes.
In 18 games with Bridgeport this season, he’s scored one goal and racked up 123 penalty minutes, so it is fairly clear what his role is going to be with the Isles.
Perhaps his presence will change the Isles’ fortunes after an ugly 4-1 loss in Carolina on Thursday night, because clearly they need something. John Tavares got manhandled earlier in the year against the Flyers and Gillies skated on the rookie’s line in practice yesterday.
In each of their most recent losses, they have surrendered at least four goals.
Before hitting the road, Mark Streit talked about how important the trip would be as they see which way the rest of their season is going to go. And considering Carolina is at the bottom of the conference, it didn’t get off to a very promising start.
Their next three are against teams that are either tied or one point ahead of them, as all but the top squads in the Eastern Conference stay mired near each other.
Having Gillies around might make the Isles bigger, but not necessarily better. The team did not announce whom Gillies would replace in the lineup.