Alexander Romanov Injury Update
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov suffered an upper-body injury late in Tuesday's 3-2 road win over the Dallas Stars. With 27.3 seconds left in the third period, Stars forward Mikko Rantanen hit Romanov from behind, driving him head-first into the end boards behind the net at 19:32. Romanov went face-first into the boards and needed help from trainer Damien Hess and teammate Kyle Palmieri to leave the ice. Isles Territory (@IslesTerritory) reported on X that Alex Romanov has been placed on IR.
Rantanen received a five-minute major for boarding and a 10-minute game misconduct after video review. No further NHL discipline is expected for the hit. Islanders coach Patrick Roy called it unacceptable, saying such plays have no place in the game. Forward Anders Lee described the moment as "scary," highlighting the fast, heavy style of play.
On Wednesday, the Islanders placed Romanov on injured reserve retroactive to the injury. TheScore (@theScore) shared on X that the Islanders have placed Alexander Romanov on IR with an upper-body injury following the hit from Mikko Rantanen last night.
The 25-year-old has one assist, 31 blocked shots, and averages 19:27 of ice time in 15 games this season on the third pairing. This marks his second upper-body stint this year; he missed five games earlier.
Romanov also sat out 18 games last season with a similar issue and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery at the end of 2022-23. To fill the roster spot, New York recalled defenseman Marshall Warren from the AHL. No timeline for Romanov's return has been announced, but he did not require a hospital visit. The Islanders, now 10-4-1, face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday without him.
Disclaimer:
This article summarizes available public information on Alexander Romanov’s injury. Details may change as team reports and NHL updates are released. For the latest and most accurate status, always consult official team channels or the league site. Player recovery timelines and outcomes are subject to change.
