The Islanders announced yesterday that injured defenseman Milan Jurcina will miss 1-2 weeks with a groin injury he sustained in the first period of Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs. The Isles are 20-12-3 this season with Jurcina in the lineup and 3-18-4 without him.
Fellow defenseman Radek Martinek, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this year and has been mentioned in trade rumors with Monday’s deadline approaching, is said to be day-to-day with a lower body injury.
The Islanders likely will keep 21-year-old rookie backliner Mark Katic, who played his first NHL game in Philadelphia on Thursday, in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Capitals at the Coliseum.