Some defensive reinforcements are on the way for the New York Islanders — the team activated veteran blueliner Robert Bortuzzo off LTIR Monday.
The 35-year-old had not appeared in a game since Jan. 2 when he suffered a lower-body injury. He was moved to long-term injured reserve on Feb. 4.
Bortuzzo had played in just 11 games for New York after being acquired amidst a rash of injuries from the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 8 for a seventh-round draft pick.
The puck-moving defenseman will get his first taste of playing under Patrick Roy, who replaced Lane Lambert as head coach in late January. While he does not provide much on the offensive side of the ice, his skating abilities should help with New York’s transition game while providing a more defensive presence compared to Sebastian Aho.
Its defense could certainly use some stabilizing. Their recent struggles have all but erased the progress made from a six-game win streak earlier this month. They have lost their last four games and have been outscored 16-5 during that swoon.
